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Sacramento metropolitan area

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused withSacramento Valley.
Greater Sacramento
Sacramento–Roseville
Metropolitan area
Sacramento, California in October 2008
Sacramento, Californiain October 2008
Greater Sacramento CSA and component areas
Greater Sacramento CSA and component areas
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
Principal citiesSacramento
–Arden-Arcade
–Roseville
–Yuba City
–South Lake Tahoe
–Truckee
Area
• Metro
21,429.2 sq mi (55,501.37 km2)
Elevation
0–10,886 ft (0–3,318 m)
Population
(2020)[1]
•Urban
1,723,634 (28th)
•Metro
2,397,382
• Metro density110/sq mi (43/km2)
•MSA
(26th)
•CSA
2,680,831
Urban = 2010
Gross Metropolitan Product
[2]
• TotalUS$160.542 billion (2021)
Time zoneUTC−8(PST)
• Summer (DST)UTC−7(PDT)

TheGreater Sacramentoarea refers to ametropolitan regioninNorthern Californiacomprising either theU.S. Census BureaudefinedSacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcademetropolitan statistical areaor the largerSacramento–Rosevillecombined statistical area,the latter of which consists of seven counties, namelySacramento,Yolo,Placer,El Dorado,Sutter,Yuba,andNevadacounties.

Straddling theCentral ValleyandSierra Nevadaregions of California, Greater Sacramento is anchored by thestate capitalof Sacramento, the political center of California. Greater Sacramento also contains sites of natural beauty includingLake Tahoe,the largest alpine lake in North America and numerous ski and nature resorts. It is also located in one of the world's most important agricultural areas. The region's eastern counties are located inGold Country,site of theCalifornia Gold Rush.

Since the late 20th century, it has been one of the fastest growing urban regions in the United States as Sacramento continues to emerge as a distinct metropolitan area.[3]In the 1990s, the metro area experienced a growth of just over 20%, with subsequent growth remaining above 10% per decade.[4]In the 2020 Census, the metropolitan region had a population of 2,680,831.[5]

Regional composition[edit]

The Greater Sacramento area is composed of seven counties, two metropolitan statistical areas and onemicropolitan area.The following counties are located in the Greater Sacramento area:

El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties compose the Sacramento–Roseville-Folsom, California, Metropolitan Statistical Area. Sutter and Yuba counties compose the Yuba City Metropolitan Statistical Area, known as theYuba–Sutter area.Nevada County composes the Truckee–Grass Valley Micropolitan Area.

Overview[edit]

The California State Capitol Building

Greater Sacramento straddles two key regions ofCalifornia,the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada mountains and is overlapped by the cultural influences of three areas, theBay Area,Eastern CaliforniaandNorthern California.An increasing phenomenon taking shape in Greater Sacramento is growth ofurban sprawlas Sacramento and its metropolitan area continue to expand. The growth is due in part to first, higher costs of living in the Bay Area which have caused commuters to move as far as Yolo and Sacramento counties and more recently, growth and rising living costs in the core of Sacramento, building up more areas in the surrounding counties for commuters. Local and state governments are trying to prevent destruction of forests and open land and curbing the spread before Sacramento faces an urban sprawl crisis as theGreater Los Angeles Areahas.[6]

Sacramentois the largest city in the metropolitan area, home to approximately 500,000 people, making it the sixth-largest city in California and the 35th largest in the United States. It has been the state capital of California since 1851 and has played an important role in the history of California. When gold was discovered in nearbySutter's MillinColoma,Sacramento became a boom town luring in migrants making their way fromSan Franciscoto the gold fields of the Sierras. Although it did not become the financial and cultural center of Northern California, titles that were given to San Francisco, Sacramento became the largest transportation hub of not only Northern California, but also the West Coast following the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad. Sacramento today continues to be one of the largest rail hubs in North America, and itsrail stationis one of the busiest in the United States. In 2002, Time Magazine featured an article recognizing Sacramento as the most diverse and integrated city in America.[7]Government (state and federal) jobs are still the largest sector of employment in the city and the city council does considerable effort to keep state agencies from moving outside the city limits.[8]The remainder ofSacramento Countyis suburban in general with most of the working population commuting toDowntown Sacramentoand with a smaller proportion commuting all the way to the Bay Area.

Palisades Tahoe,the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics

Yolo Countyis a mixture of an agricultural area andcommuter region,with most of its working population commuting either to the Bay Area or Sacramento for work. It is home to theUniversity of California, Davis,campus, the northernmost UC campus and only UC campus in the Greater Sacramento region.

El DoradoandPlacer Countiesform the remainder of the inner core of Greater Sacramento and are composed of theSierra Nevadafoothills and mountains. The western areas of the counties are composed of commuter suburbs, withRosevillein Placer County being Sacramento's most populousedge city.The Sierra foothills mostly contain residential acreage properties and small farms. The easternmost areas border Lake Tahoe and are home to numerous ski resorts and towns such asSouth Lake Tahoe,site of theHeavenly Mountain Resort,which are popular in winter months and nature camps and resorts in summer months. Placer County has been an important mining area not only for gold, but also other minerals and granite. It is also the site ofSquaw Valley,which hosted the1960 Winter Olympics,which has been up to date, the onlyWinter Olympic Gamesto be held inCaliforniaand theUS West Coastand the smallest city to host an Olympics.

Statelineis an important Tahoe resort town on the shores of Lake Tahoe.

TheYuba–Sutter areaconsists ofYubaandSuttercounties and is a primarily agricultural area, although the southern area is more suburban in character. It is home toSunsweet Growers,which owns the world's largest dried fruit plant inYuba City.Nevada County,like El Dorado and Placer Counties, borders Lake Tahoe and contains numerous ski resorts such as theBoreal Mountain Resort,but is more rural than the former two counties and is an important gold mining area. TheDonner Memorial State Parkis located in the county, where the ill-fatedDonner Partywas trapped in winter storms in 1846–47 while attempting to make it to California on a poorly organized trip.

Douglas County, Nevadawas recently briefly added to the Sacramento Combined Statistical Area. As Greater Sacramento continues to grow beyond its inner region, Western Nevada continues to be influenced by Sacramento and California and their cultures.[9]However, Douglas County has since been removed again from the Sacramento CSA, and transferred to the Reno-Carson City-Fernley, NV CSA.

Geography and climate[edit]

Geography[edit]

A cove inside the Sacramento River delta

The western half of Greater Sacramento is centered on the Central Valley, one of the most vital agricultural areas in the country. The Sierra Nevada and its foothills compose the eastern portion of the region. Yolo County contains a large flood control basin. TheSacramento Riverand theAmerican Riverare major rivers that form adeepwater portconnected to theSan Francisco Bayby a channel through theSacramento River Delta.Coniferous and oak-dominated woodland are prevalent in the Sierra Nevada and the Lake Tahoe area.

Climate[edit]

Sacramento and the valley area have aMediterranean climate(KöppenCsa), characterized by damp to wet, cool winters and hot, dry summers. The wet season is generally October through April. Summer heat is often moderated by a sea breeze known as the "delta breeze" which comes through theSacramento–San Joaquin River Deltafrom theSan Francisco Bay.[10]January is the coolest month for the entire region with an average maximum of 41.0 °F (5.0 °C) and an average minimum of 15.1 °F (-9.4 °C) in Lake Tahoe.

The eastern portion of Greater Sacramento experiences a more varied climate with 90 °F (32.2 °C) temperatures in August to below freezing temperatures in winter. In higher elevations, freezing temperatures have been recorded every month. In the winter, below freezing temperatures are common in Sacramento and lower valley elevations although snowfall is scarce and usually melts on ground contact with significant snowfall occurring roughly every 3–5 years. However, blizzard conditions in winter storms can be common in the higher elevations.[11][12]

Communities[edit]

Incorporated places[edit]

Census-designated places[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
190045,915—
191067,80647.7%
192091,02934.2%
1930141,99956.0%
1940170,33320.0%
1950277,14062.7%
1960654,893136.3%
1970844,42528.9%
19801,099,81430.2%
19901,481,10234.7%
20001,796,85721.3%
20102,149,12719.6%
20202,397,38211.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1790–1960[14]1900–1990[15]
1990–2000[16]

As of the 2020census,there were 2,397,382 people residing within the MSA. The racial makeup was 52.5% White, 7.0% Black, 1.1% American Indian, 14.9% Asian, 0.9% Pacific Islander, 10.4% Other and 13.2% Two or More Races. 22.2% identified as Hispanic or Latino.

The median income for a household in the MSA in 2000 was $48,401, and the median income for a family was $57,112. Males had a median income of $43,572 versus $31,889 for females. Theper capita incomefor the MSA was $23,508.

County 2021 Estimate 2020 Census Change Area Density
Sacramento County 1,588,921 1,585,055 +0.24% 964.64 sq mi (2,498.4 km2) 1,647/sq mi (636/km2)
Placer County 412,300 404,739 +1.87% 1,407.01 sq mi (3,644.1 km2) 293/sq mi (113/km2)
Yolo County 216,986 216,403 +0.27% 1,014.69 sq mi (2,628.0 km2) 214/sq mi (83/km2)
El Dorado County 193,221 191,185 +1.06% 1,707.88 sq mi (4,423.4 km2) 113/sq mi (44/km2)
Total 2,411,428 2,397,382 +0.59% 5,094.22 sq mi (13,194.0 km2) 473/sq mi (183/km2)

Transportation[edit]

Main article:Transportation in the Sacramento metropolitan area
Interstate 80 near the Donner Summit in wintertime

Owing to its central location between theBay Areaand Nevada border, Greater Sacramento is a key transportation hub into Northern California. While the region doesn't have an extensive public transportation system as the San Francisco Bay Area, Greater Sacramento has had an earlier history of public mass transit and is served by a vast freeway system as well as some light rail.

Freeways and highways[edit]

Sacramento is served by numerous highways. Five highways merge in theCapital City Corridor,serving the immediate downtown Sacramento area. The major freeways of the Greater Sacramento area areInterstate 80,US Route 50,Interstate 5,andState Route 99,which serve the northern Tahoe area, southern Tahoe area, and valley areas, respectively, as well as forming the Capital City Corridor along withInterstate 80 Business.Outside downtown Sacramento, there is only one principal route that serves its respective area and there are smaller state routes as well. Freeways and highways in the Greater Sacramento areas include:

Rail[edit]

Sacramento is the largest rail hub west of theMississippi Riverand was the first terminus of theFirst transcontinental railroadbefore it extended toOakland.TheSacramento Valley Stationis the largest train station in the region, nearOld Sacramento,and is connected by theCoast Starlight,California Zephyr,San Joaquins,Capitol CorridorandAmtrak ThruwayAmtrakroutes. TheSacramento Regional Transit Districtis the local transit agency for Sacramento County and operates three light rail routes, theBlue Line,Green Line,andGold Line,along 42.9 mi (69 km) ofright-of-waythat serve Sacramento and its immediate suburbs. Other train stations in the Greater Sacramento area areDavis,Roseville,Rocklin,Auburn,ColfaxandTruckee.

Air[edit]

The main airport servicing Greater Sacramento is theSacramento International Airportnorth of downtown while theSacramento Mather Airport,Sacramento Executive AirportandMinden–Tahoe Airportsprovide general aviation. TheReno-Tahoe International AirportinRenoprovides more direct access toLake Tahoethan Sacramento International. For a wider range of destinations, residents must travel down toSan Francisco International Airport,the largest airport in Northern California and 10th largest in the United States.

Bus[edit]

Greater Sacramento is served by extensive bus systems that link the region to the Reno and Bay Area metropolitan areas. TheSacramento Regional Transit Districtoperates bus lines in Sacramento County andYolobusserves Yolo County while providing connections to downtown Sacramento and northernSolano Countyin the Bay Area.El Dorado Transitlinks El Dorado County with downtown Sacramento and the city's western suburbs.Placer County TransitandRoseville Transitlink Sacramento with Placer County with the latter providing direct connection from Roseville to Sacramento. TheYuba-Sutter Transitprovides bus service in the Yuba–Sutter area and direct connection to downtown Sacramento on weekdays. Gold Country Stage and Tahoe Truckee Area Rapid Transit serve Nevada County and transfer service to Auburn to Sacramento is provided.Greyhound,Megabus,Flixbus,andAmtrakprovide long-distance bus lines to Greater Sacramento.

Higher education[edit]

The Sacramento State library

Greater Sacramento's higher education system consists of the northernmostUniversity of Californiacampus,University of California, Davis,and theCalifornia State University, Sacramento( "Sac State" ), as well as several community colleges in the region.

Politics[edit]

Greater Sacramento vote
by party in presidential elections
Year GOP DEM Others
2016 41.88%409,624 54.97%537,727 3.15%30,786
2012 45.58%447,435 51.46%505,065 2.96%29,057
2008 44.33%454,362 53.39%547,201 2.27%23,286
2004 53.37%488,703 45.33%415,141 1.30%11,920
2000 49.92%394,935 44.58%352,677 5.49%43,448
1996 44.11%309,442 46.13%323,652 9.76%68,456
1992 36.85%279,776 41.06%311,743 22.08%167,648
1988 53.00%340,727 45.63%293,284 1.37%8,780
1984 57.46%338,935 41.11%242,505 1.43%8,467
See also:Politics of California

In addition to being home of the state capital of California, Greater Sacramento is considered a politically competitive area with no major political party having a majority over the region.[17]Sacramento and Yolo counties have large Democratic pluralities and have had Democratic majorities since the2008 presidential election,attributed to the former county being mainly urban and the latter home to the strongly Democratic university town of Davis. El Dorado, Placer, Yuba, and Sutter counties are predominantlyRepublicanwhile Nevada County, despite a history of being held by Republican candidates, reflects the metropolitan area's competitiveness with pluralities between the two major parties.

Sports teams[edit]

Main article:Sports in Sacramento, California

Professional sports[edit]

The Olympics Sign at Squaw Valley

The only major professional sports team based in the Greater Sacramento area are theSacramento Kings,who play at the Golden 1 Center in Downtown Sacramento.

Prior to 2009, theSacramento Monarchsof theWomen's National Basketball Association(W NBA ) were also based at the Sleep Train Arena (then known as ARCO Arena), and were one of the most successful W NBA teams until the team folded.[18]

Greater Sacramento is the only metropolitan area in California to have ever hosted aWinter Olympic GameswhenSquaw Valleyhosted the1960 Winter Olympics,becoming the smallest city to ever host anOlympic Games,a title it still holds. Squaw Valley was the second Olympic games hosted in California and the only one not held inLos Angeles,where the1932and1984 Summer Olympicswere hosted and was the only Winter Olympics held west of the Mississippi River until the2002 Winter OlympicsinSalt Lake City.

Minor league teams[edit]

Greater Sacramento is also home to minor or secondary league sports teams.Sacramento Republic FCis asoccerteam that plays in theUSL ChampionshipatPapa Murphy's Park,which is located on the grounds ofCal Expo.Anew stadiumin downtown Sacramento is planned to be completed ahead of the club's move toMajor League Soccer(MLS).[19]

TheSacramento River Catsare atriple-Abaseball teamaffiliated with theSan Francisco Giants.The team plays inWest SacramentoatSutter Health Park,which is located just across the Sacramento River from downtown Sacramento.

Team Sport League Venue
Sacramento Republic FC Soccer USL Championship Papa Murphy's Park
Sacramento River Cats Baseball Pacific Coast League Sutter Health Park
NCAADivision ICollege Sports

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Star, Indianapolis."Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA Metro Area Demographics and Housing 2020 Decennial Census".Indianapolis Star.Retrieved2022-02-01.
  2. ^"GDP by county in 2021"(PDF).bea.gov.
  3. ^Luery, Mike.3 takeaways from Sacramento's population jump,KCRA,1 May 2019.
  4. ^"Growth Slows, Diversity Grows In California's Regions".Public Policy Institute of California.Retrieved11 February2021.
  5. ^Star, Indianapolis."Sacramento-Roseville CA Metro Area Demographics and Housing 2020 Decennial Census".Indianapolis Star.Retrieved2022-02-01.
  6. ^Metcalf, Gabriel; Terplan, Egon (November–December 2007)."The Northern California megaregion".The Urbanist.San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association.RetrievedNovember 21,2009.
  7. ^Stodghill, Ron; Bower, Amanda (2002-08-25)."Welcome to America's Most Diverse City".Time.Archived fromthe originalon December 8, 2002.
  8. ^"Vcarious".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-03-04.Retrieved2010-12-20.
  9. ^"Table 2. Annual Estimates of the Population of Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 (CBSA-EST2009-02)".2009 Population Estimates.United States Census Bureau,Population Division. 2010-03-23. Archived fromthe original(CSV)on April 20, 2010.Retrieved2010-03-29.
  10. ^"Climate for Sacramento, CA".RSSWeather.Retrieved2009-03-13.
  11. ^"Tahoe, California – Climate Summary".Desert Research Institute.Retrieved2008-10-31.(1903-2007 climate data)
  12. ^"Climate Data – North Lahontan Hydrologic Region".State of California, Department of Water Resources.Retrieved2008-10-31.(30-year climate data)
  13. ^"U.S. Decennial Census".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMay 18,2014.
  14. ^"Historical Census Browser".University of Virginia Library.RetrievedMay 18,2014.
  15. ^"Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMay 18,2014.
  16. ^"Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000"(PDF).United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMay 18,2014.
  17. ^"Supplement to the Statement of Vote: Statewide Summary by County for United States President"(PDF).California Secretary of State.2009-04-10. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2009-06-12.Retrieved2009-08-21.
  18. ^"W NBA 's Sacramento Monarchs fold".Bay Area News Group. 20 November 2009.Retrieved21 November2009.
  19. ^Lillis, Ryan (2017-07-27)."Big step in Sacramento's Major League Soccer bid".The Sacramento Bee.ISSN0890-5738.Retrieved2018-06-26.
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