The Sacramento region
Great place to live and work
The Sacramento metropolitan area is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.
Affordable housing, good schools, mild winters and dry summers, recreation along two major rivers, proximity to the Sierra Nevada mountains and the San Francisco Bay area - all make Sacramento one of California's most desirable places to live, work and raise a family. Plus, being the capital of a state whose economy is the fifth largest in the world creates a vibrant business and cultural climate.
Sacramento is close to so many other places -- the ski resorts of Lake Tahoe, the cable cars of San Francisco, the vineyards of Napa Valley, the stunning sites of Yosemite National Park, and the coastal beaches of Mendocino. While it's true that one of Sacramento's assets is its central location, you don't need to hit the road to enjoy yourself.
Area facts
Location
Sacramento is located 90 miles northeast of San Francisco, 383 miles north of Los Angeles. Elevation: 17 feet.
Population
400,000 in the city and nearly 1.7 million in the metropolitan area, which consists of Sacramento and parts of Yolo, Placer and El Dorado counties.
Climate
Sacramento enjoys moderate year-round temperatures. Summers are dry with little humidity and abundant sunshine. The winters are cool and often wet, with an average annual rainfall of 17.2 inches. The average temperature in January is 53.5 degrees F. July's average temperature is 88 degrees F.
Transportation
Sacramento is easily accessible from all directions. Interstate 80 and US Highway 50 run east/west; Interstate 5 and US Highway 99 run north/south. Sacramento International Airport is served by all major airlines. Regional Transit operates 20 miles of light rail track.
Culture
Sacramento is home to professional ballet, opera and theatre companies. The capital city has dozens of theaters, galleries and museums. Cultural attractions include:
- California State Railroad Museum in historic Old Sacramento
- Sutter's Fort
- Crocker Art Museum
- California State Capitol
- Sacramento Zoo, one of the finest in the state
Higher education
- California State University, Sacramento
- University of California at Davis
- University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law
- Several community colleges
Professional sports
The Sacramento Kings, a National Basketball Association franchise since 1985, play before sellout crowds at ARCO Arena. Other professional sports franchises include:
- Sacramento River Cats, a triple-A baseball team that plays its games at scenic Raley Field
- Monarchs, a Women's NBA franchise
- Ladies Professional Golf Association holds an annual tournament, the Longs Drugs Challenge, in nearby Auburn
Sacramento hosted the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in 2000 and 2004.
Recreation
In a city with two major rivers, the American and the Sacramento, water recreation is one of the top outdoor activities.
The American River Parkway features 23 miles of bike trails and nature preserves. Salmon and steelhead fishing, river rafting and boating are popular on the 1,000 miles of waterway around Sacramento and the Delta.
Folsom Lake and Lake Natoma offer sailing and windsurfing. Sacramento has a wealth of public golf courses and is one of the country's most avid softball communities.
Known as the "City of Trees," Sacramento has more than 120 city parks parks covering 2,000 acres. World-class snow skiing is less than two hours away at Lake Tahoe.
Annual events
- Sacramento Jazz Jubilee
- California State Fair
- California International Marathon
- Festival de la Familia
- Pacific Rim Street Festival
- Winterfest
Informational links
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