History of Sacramento, California in Timeline

Sacramento is the capital city of California, situated at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers. With a population of over 524,000, it ranks as the fourth-most populous city in Northern California and the state's sixth-largest. It serves as the seat of both the California Legislature and the Governor's office. Economically and culturally, Sacramento is the central hub of the Greater Sacramento area, a metropolitan region encompassing over 2.6 million residents, making it the fourth-largest metropolitan area in California.

1900: Significant Snow Accumulations since 1900

Since 1900, there have only been three significant snow accumulations in Sacramento's downtown area.

1920: Adoption of the current city charter

In 1920, voters adopted Sacramento's current city charter, exempting it from many state laws and regulations.

1923: SMUD Creation Approved

In 1923, Sacramento voters approved the creation of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD).

1924: Significant Events in 1924

In 1924, Standard Oil executive Verne McGeorge established McGeorge School of Law, Weinstock & Lubin opened a new store, the Senator Hotel was opened, Sacramento's drinking water became filtered, and boxer Georgie Lee fought Francisco Guilledo (Pancho Villa).

December 11, 1932: Near Record Low Temperature

On December 11, 1932, an area near Sacramento dipped to 17 °F (−8.3 °C).

1934: Last ocean-going vessel before Taipei Victory

In 1934, the steamship Harpoon was the last ocean-going vessel in Sacramento before the arrival of Taipei Victory.

May 6, 1942: Sacramento Assembly Center Opens

On May 6, 1942, the Sacramento Assembly Center (Walerga Assembly Center) opened to house Japanese Americans forcibly evacuated from the West Coast.

1943: Repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act

The Chinese Exclusion Act, which contributed to discrimination against Sacramento's Chinatown, was not repealed until 1943.

April 1946: PG&E ordered to transfer to SMUD

In April 1946, after 12 years of litigation, a judge ordered Pacific Gas & Electric to transfer the title of Sacramento's electric distribution system to SMUD.

December 1947: Camp Kohler Fire and Temporary Housing

In December 1947, Camp Kohler was destroyed by a fire, and the former assembly center temporarily housed 234 returning Japanese American families who could not find housing.

1947: End of Poverty Ridge's wealthiest era

From 1868 to 1947, the Poverty Ridge Historic District was considered Sacramento's wealthiest neighborhood.

1947: Sacramento State College Founding

In 1947, Sacramento State College was founded, later becoming California State University, Sacramento.

1949: Groundbreaking on the Port of Sacramento

In 1949, ground was broken on the Port of Sacramento, marking the beginning of its construction.

1954: Sacramento State Hornets

Since 1954, the Sacramento State Hornets have won seven conference titles and have participated in four playoff appearances and two bowl games.

June 29, 1963: Arrival of the Motor Vessel Taipei Victory

On June 29, 1963, the Motor Vessel Taipei Victory, a Nationalist Chinese flagship, arrived at the Port of Sacramento, marking the first ocean-going vessel to dock there since 1934.

1964: Sacramento Country Day School Opened

In 1964, Sacramento Country Day School opened and offered Sacramento citizens an independent school affiliated with the California Association of Independent Schools.

1964: Merger of North Sacramento with Sacramento

In 1964, the City of North Sacramento merged with Sacramento, significantly increasing the city's population.

1967: Reagan becomes Governor and resides in Sacramento

In 1967, Ronald Reagan became the last Governor of California to live permanently in Sacramento.

1970: Sacramento Population makeup in 1970

In 1970 Non-Hispanic Whites were 71.4% of the Sacramento population.

1972: "Sacramento" song released

In 1972, the Scottish pop band Middle of the Road sang kindly of Sacramento in their European hit song "Sacramento".

1976: Last Significant Snow Accumulation

The last significant snow accumulation in Sacramento's downtown area occurred in 1976.

1977: Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission Established

In 1977, the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission was established as the Sacramento arts council to provide arts programs for the city.

1978: Sacramento designated a City of Trees

In 1978, Sacramento was the first US city to be designated a City of Trees by the Arbor Day Foundation.

1980: Sacramento Flood in 1980

In 1980, Sacramento experienced another flood.

1983: California International Marathon established

The California International Marathon was established in 1983.

1985: Hugh Scrutton Killed by Bomb

In 1985, Hugh Scrutton, a computer store owner in Sacramento, was killed by a bomb.

1985: Kings came to Sacramento

In 1985, the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association came to Sacramento from Kansas City.

1988: Founding of Masjid Annur

In 1988, Masjid Annur, an Islamic school, was founded in Sacramento.

December 22, 1990: Low Temperature Record

On December 22, 1990, Sacramento experienced a temperature of 18 °F (−7.8 °C).

1991: Capitol Casino Opening

In 1991, Capitol Casino opened in downtown Sacramento, offering various card games.

1991: Western Seminary Opens Sacramento Campus

In 1991, Western Seminary opened one of its four campuses in Sacramento, located on the campus of Arcade Church.

February 1992: Record Consecutive Days of Rain

In February 1992, Sacramento had 16 consecutive days of rain, resulting in an accumulation of 6.41 inches.

1996: Scrutton's death attributed to the Unabomber

In 1996, Hugh Scrutton's death was attributed to the Unabomber, Theodore Kaczynski.

1997: Sacramento Monarchs founding member of the WNBA

In 1997, the Sacramento Monarchs were one of the eight founding members of the WNBA.

2000: AAA minor league baseball returns to Sacramento

In 2000, AAA minor league baseball returned to Sacramento with the Sacramento River Cats.

2000: Transfer of McClellan Air Force Base to Sacramento County

In 2000, McClellan Air Force Base was transferred to Sacramento County and became McClellan Airfield.

2001: Over one million people attended the State Fair

More than one million people attended this fair in 2001.

January 2002: Traceable Snowfall in 2002

In January 2002, Sacramento had brief and traceable amounts of snowfall.

2002: Sacramento named "America's Most Diverse City"

In 2002, Sacramento was named "America's Most Diverse City" by the Civil Rights Project at Harvard University for Time magazine.

2003: Wells Fargo Pavilion built

In 2003, the Wells Fargo Pavilion was built atop the old Music Circus tent foundations as part of the H Street Theatre Complex.

2004: Sacramento State Enrollment in 2004

In 2004, Sacramento State had 22,555 undergraduate students and 5,417 graduate students in its eight colleges.

2005: Sacramento Monarchs won the WNBA Championship

In 2005, the Sacramento Monarchs won the WNBA Championship.

September 2006: Designated as a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Community

In September 2006, Sacramento was designated as a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists.

2006: West Sacramento takes responsibility for Port of Sacramento

As of 2006, the city of West Sacramento took responsibility for the Port of Sacramento due to operating losses and competition from the Port of Stockton.

2006: California Automobile Museum displays vehicles from 1880 to 2006

In 2006, the California Automobile Museum, located just south of Old Sacramento, showcased automotive history and vehicles from 1880 to 2006, establishing itself as the oldest non-profit automotive museum in the West.

2006: Leland Stanford Mansion Restored

In 2006, the Leland Stanford Mansion was completely restored. It now serves as the State's official address for diplomatic and business receptions.

2007: Sacramento Horror Film Festival Founded

Founded in 2007, the Sacramento Horror Film Festival showcases feature-length and short films as well as live musical and theatrical performances in the horror and macabre genres.

2007: Establishment of The Art Institute of California – Sacramento

In 2007, The Art Institute of California – Sacramento, a branch of The Art Institute of California – Los Angeles, was established.

2007: Sacramento Valley Rail Station Renovations in 2007

In 2007, the Sacramento Valley Rail Station underwent extensive renovations.

November 2009: Sacramento Monarchs folded

In November 2009, the Sacramento Monarchs of the WNBA folded.

December 2009: Traceable Snowfall in 2009

In December 2009, Sacramento had brief and traceable amounts of snowfall.

2009: School District Employment Statistics in 2009

As of 2009, the Sacramento area's schools employed 9,600 elementary school teachers and 7,410 middle school teachers.

2009: Sacramento Museum Day draws record crowd

In 2009, Sacramento Museum Day attracted more than 80,000 people, marking the largest attendance in the event's history.

2010: Sacramento population in 2010

In 2010 the United States Census reported Sacramento had a population of 466,488.

2010: Ethnic groups in 2010

In 2010 the population consisted of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Salvadoran, Guatemalan, and Nicaraguan heritage. Non-Hispanic Whites were 34.5% of the population.

2010: Capital Stage performs aboard Delta King

In 2010, Capital Stage performed aboard the Delta King.

2010: State Fair moved to July in 2010

In 2010, the California State Fair moved to July.

2010: Crocker Art Museum Expansion

In 2010, the Crocker Art Museum completed an expansion, tripling its exhibit space.

2010: Droughts since 2010

Since 2010, statewide droughts in California have strained Sacramento's water security.

February 2011: Traceable Snowfall in 2011

In February 2011, Sacramento had brief and traceable amounts of snowfall.

2011: Walk Score Ranking in 2011

A 2011 study by Walk Score ranked Sacramento as the 24th most walkable of the fifty largest U.S. cities.

2011: Capital Stage performs aboard Delta King

Capital Stage continued to perform aboard the Delta King until the end of the 2010–2011 season.

2012: Sacramento markets itself as "America's Farm-to-Fork Capital"

In 2012, Sacramento started a marketing campaign as "America's Farm-to-Fork Capital". Also in 2012, The Kitchen restaurant was nominated for Outstanding Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation.

2012: Aftershock Festival Established

Since 2012, Sacramento hosts the four-day Aftershock Festival at Discovery Park.

January 21, 2013: Controlling interest in Sacramento Kings sold

On January 21, 2013, a controlling interest in the Sacramento Kings was sold to Chris Hansen, who intended to move the franchise to Seattle.

May 16, 2013: NBA Board of Governors votes to keep Kings in Sacramento

On May 16, 2013, the NBA Board of Governors voted 22–8 to keep the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento.

2013: Sacramento's Tourism in 2013

In 2013, Sacramento received 15.3 million visitors, according to the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau.

2013: Sacramento's park system ranked third-best in the U.S.

In its 2013 ParkScore ranking, The Trust for Public Land reported Sacramento was tied with San Francisco and Boston for having the third-best park system among the 50 most populous U.S. cities.

2013: Sacramento Heatwave previously played in the Sacramento area until 2013

The Sacramento Heatwave of the American Basketball Association previously played in the Sacramento area until 2013.

April 2014: Sacramento Republic FC inaugural game

In April 2014, Sacramento Republic FC of USL Championship began play at Hughes Stadium before a sellout crowd, setting a USL Pro regular-season single-game attendance record.

2014: Intended move of the Sacramento Kings

Chris Hansen originally intended to move the franchise to Seattle for the 2013–2014 NBA season.

2015: Expansion of University of the Pacific Sacramento Campus

In 2015, the University of the Pacific's Sacramento Campus expanded to become a comprehensive graduate and professional campus, including programs in analytics, business, education, health sciences, and public policy.

September 30, 2016: Opening of the Golden 1 Center

On September 30, 2016, Sacramento's Golden 1 Center opened with a final estimated cost of $558.2 million.

2016: Downtown Commons Opened in 2016

In 2016, Downtown Commons (DOCO) opened along with the Golden 1 Center, featuring the Sawyer skyscraper, a Macy's anchor store, and an IMAX theater.

2016: Wide Open Walls Festival Inception

Since the festival's inception in 2016, the Wide Open Walls Festival has facilitated the addition of more than 140 murals across the city by artists from around the world.

2017: Sacramento beer scene growing as of 2017

As of 2017, Sacramento's growing beer scene is evident, with over 60 microbreweries in the region.

2017: "City of Trees" Slogan Controversy on Water Tower in 2017

In 2017, the "City of Trees" slogan on a Sacramento water tower was repainted with "America's Farm-to-Fork Capital", sparking a citizen protest.

2017: Sacramento Jazz Jubilee held until 2017

The Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, held every Memorial Day weekend, occurred until 2017.

2018: The B Street Theatre completes move to Sophia Tsokopoulos Center for the Arts

In 2018, The B Street Theatre completed its move into the new Sophia Tsokopoulos Center for the Arts.

October 2019: Republic FC's Major League Soccer expansion bid approved

In October 2019, Republic FC's Major League Soccer expansion bid was approved.

2019: Sacramento International Airport Passenger Count in 2019

In 2019, Sacramento International Airport served more than 13 million passengers.

2019: Sacramento Theatre Company prepares to celebrate its 75th season

In the Fall of 2019, the Sacramento Theatre Company prepared to celebrate its 75th season at the H Street Theatre Complex.

2020: Sacramento's Population in 2020

In 2020, Sacramento's population was recorded at 524,943, making it the fourth-most populous city in Northern California.

February 26, 2021: Republic FC's MLS bid on indefinite hiatus

As of February 26, 2021, Republic FC's Major League Soccer expansion bid is on indefinite hiatus.

2021: Museum of Science and Curiosity Opens

In 2021, the Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC) opened in the restored historic power station building of Matsui Waterfront Park.

September 6, 2022: High Temperature Record

On September 6, 2022, Sacramento experienced a temperature of 116 °F (46.7 °C).

2022: Republic FC's MLS play was expected in 2022

Republic FC's Major League Soccer expansion bid was approved and the team was expected to begin MLS play in the 2022 season.

2023: Top employers in Sacramento County as of 2023

As of 2023, data was collected on the top employers in the County of Sacramento.

2023: Sacramento has 14 sister cities

As of 2023, the City of Sacramento has 14 sister cities.

2023: Republic FC's MLS play delayed until 2023

Republic FC's Major League Soccer expansion bid was approved and the team was expected to begin MLS play in the 2022 season, until being delayed by COVID-19 to the 2023 season.

2024: City Council Members in 2024

As of 2024, Kevin McCarty is the mayor of Sacramento, and the council members are Angelique Ashby, Allen Warren, Jeff Harris, Steve Hansen, Jay Schenirer, Rich Jennings, and Larry Carr. The City of Sacramento is part of Sacramento County.

2024: The Fire Spectacular is still planned for fall 2024

Jim Souza, the lead organizer of the event, came under controversy after local H.O.A members reported hooded individuals wearing black fire emblems strolling around the park and announced the event is still planned for fall 2024 of this year.

2025: Athletics to play at Sutter Health Park

Beginning in 2025, the Athletics of Major League Baseball will temporarily play at Sutter Health Park.

2026: Altamont Corridor Express Rail Service Expected

In 2026, Altamont Corridor Express commuter rail service is expected to be routed through Sacramento.

2026: Additional Amtrak Service Expected

In 2026, an additional Amtrak service under this banner is expected to be routed through Midtown.

2027: Athletics to play at Sutter Health Park until 2027

The Athletics of Major League Baseball will temporarily play at Sutter Health Park from 2025 to 2027.

2028: Option for Athletics to play at Sutter Health Park in 2028

The Athletics of Major League Baseball, as part of their relocation from Oakland to Las Vegas, will temporarily play at Sutter Health Park from 2025 to 2027 (with an option for 2028).