Sacramento is the capital of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County, California. It is the 7th largest city in California. It was founded in December of 1848 by John Sutter. Sacramento grew from Sutter's Fort, which was established by Sutter in 1839, and the city is now a quickly growing metropolis. During the gold rush, Sacramento was a major distribution point, a commercial and agricultural center, and a terminus for wagon trains, stagecoaches, riverboats, the telegraph, the Pony Express and the First Transcontinental Railroad. The city proper is home to about 450,000 residents, while the 5 county metropolitan area (El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo Counties) is home to 2.5 million people.

 

Typical of California informality, Sacramento is referred to by many names. The most prevalent are: Capital City, River City (due to the two major rivers which run through the city), and the City of Trees. However, the nickname most used by those living in the area is simply Sacto or Sac. This is evident when residents refer to areas and landmarks by this name. Old Sac is the original town of Sacramento which to this day is maintained. The Big Tomato, Sacratomato, and Sack O' Tomatoes continue to be used despite the ongoing triumph of tract houses over tomato fields, perhaps in reference to the perceived pastorality of Sacramento in comparison to denser cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles.

 

Sac State (California State University, Sacramento), is the local university and is one of twenty-three campuses (and growing) in the California State University system.

 

 

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