Sacramento County, California

Sacramento County (/ˌsækrəˈmɛntoʊ/ ⓘ) is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,585,055.[5] Its county seat is Sacramento,[6] which has been the state capital of California since 1854.

Sacramento County
County
Flag of Sacramento County
Flag
Official seal of Sacramento County
Seal
Interactive map of Sacramento County
Location in the state of California
Location in the state of California
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
RegionSacramento Valley
Metro areaGreater Sacramento
IncorporatedFebruary 18, 1850[1]
Named forThe capital city of Sacramento, which is named for the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
County seat (and largest city)Sacramento
Government
 • TypeCouncil–CEO
 • BodyBoard of Supervisors
 • Chair[2]Rich Desmond
 • Vice Chair[2]Patrick Kennedy
 • Board of Supervisors[2]
Supervisors
  • Phil Serna
  • Patrick Kennedy
  • Rich Desmond
  • Sue Frost
  • Patrick Hume
 • County ExecutiveAnn Edwards
Area
 • Total994 sq mi (2,570 km2)
 • Land965 sq mi (2,500 km2)
 • Water29 sq mi (80 km2)
Highest elevation
[3]
831 ft (253 m)
Population
 (April 1, 2020)[4]
 • Total1,585,055
 • Density1,600/sq mi (620/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific Standard Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Congressional districts3rd, 6th, 7th
Websitewww.saccounty.net

Sacramento County is the central county of the Greater Sacramento metropolitan area. The county covers about 994 square miles (2,570 km2) in the northern portion of the Central Valley, on into Gold Country. Sacramento County extends from the low delta lands between the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River, including Suisun Bay, north to about ten miles (16 km) beyond the State Capitol and east into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The southernmost portion of Sacramento County has direct access to San Francisco Bay. Since 2010, statewide droughts in California have further strained Sacramento County's water security.[7]

History

Sacramento County was one of the original counties of California, which were created in 1850 at the time of statehood. The county was named after the Sacramento River, which forms its western border. The river was named by Spanish cavalry officer Gabriel Moraga for the Santisimo Sacramento (Most Holy Sacrament), referring to the Catholic Eucharist.

Alexander Hamilton Willard, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, is buried in the old Franklin Cemetery.

Geography
Sacramento

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 994 square miles (2,570 km2), of which 965 square miles (2,500 km2) is land and 29 square miles (75 km2) (3.0%) is water.[8] Most of the county is at an elevation close to sea level, with some areas below sea level. The highest point in the county is Carpenter Hill at 828 feet (252 m), in the southeast part of Folsom. Major watercourses in the county include the American River, Sacramento River, Cosumnes River, a tributary of the Mokelumne River, and Dry Creek, a tributary of the Sacramento River.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18509,087—
186024,142165.7%
187026,83011.1%
188034,39028.2%
189040,33917.3%
190045,91513.8%
191067,80647.7%
192091,02934.2%
1930141,99956.0%
1940170,33320.0%
1950277,14062.7%
1960502,77881.4%
1970631,49825.6%
1980783,38124.1%
19901,041,21932.9%
20001,223,49917.5%
20101,418,78816.0%
20201,585,05511.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010[13] 2020[14]

2020 census
Sacramento County, California - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[13] Pop 2020[14] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 687,166 650,271 48.43% 41.03%
Black or African American alone (NH) 139,949 145,724 9.86% 9.19%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 7,875 7,432 0.56% 0.47%
Asian alone (NH) 198,944 276,295 14.02% 17.43%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 13,099 18,011 0.92% 1.14%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 3,418 10,104 0.24% 0.64%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 62,141 102,784 4.38% 6.48%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 306,196 374,434 21.58% 23.62%
Total 1,418,788 1,585,055 100.00% 100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

Ethnic origins in Sacramento County

2011

Places by population, ethnicity, and income

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Sacramento County had a population of 1,418,788. The racial makeup of Sacramento County was 815,151 (57.5%) White, 200,228 (15.4%) African American, 14,308 (1.0%) Native American, 203,211 (14.3%) Asian, 13,858 (1.0%) Pacific Islander, 131,691 (9.3%) from other races, and 93,511 (6.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 306,196 persons (21.6%).[23]

2000

As of the census[24] of 2000, there were 1,223,499 people, 453,602 households, and 297,562 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,267 inhabitants per square mile (489/km2). There were 474,814 housing units at an average density of 492 per square mile (190/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 64.0% White, 10.6% Black or African American, 1.09% Native American, 13.5% Asian, 0.6% Pacific Islander, 7.5% from other races, and 5.8% from two or more races. 19.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 10.2% were of German, 7.0% English, 6.7% Irish and 5.1% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 75.7% spoke only English at home; 10.0% spoke Spanish, 1.5% Hmong, 1.4% Chinese or Mandarin, 1.3% Vietnamese, 1.2% Tagalog and 1.2% Russian.

There were 453,602 households, out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,816, and the median income for a family was $50,717. Males had a median income of $39,482 versus $31,569 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,142. About 10.3% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government and policing
Main article: Government of Sacramento County, California

Government

The Government of Sacramento County is defined and authorized under the California Constitution, California law, and the Charter of the County of Sacramento.[25] Much of the Government of California is in practice the responsibility of county governments such as the Government of Sacramento County, while municipalities such as the city of Sacramento and Folsom provide additional, often non-essential services.

It is composed of the elected five-member Board of Supervisors, several other elected offices including the Sheriff, District Attorney, and Assessor, and numerous county departments and entities under the supervision of the County Executive Officer. In addition, several entities of the government of California have jurisdiction conterminous with Sacramento County, such as the Sacramento County Superior Court.

Under its foundational Charter, the five-member elected Sacramento County Board of Supervisors (BOS) is the county legislature. The board operates in a legislative, executive, and quasi-judicial capacity. The current members are:

  • Phil Serna, district 1
  • Patrick Kennedy, district 2
  • Rich Desmond, district 3
  • Sue Frost, district 4
  • Don Nottoli, district 5

The Sacramento County Code is the codified law of Sacramento County in the form of local ordinances passed by the Board of Supervisors.

Policing

The Sacramento County Sheriff provides court protection and jail management for the entire county. It provides patrol and detective services for the unincorporated areas of the county. Incorporated municipalities within the county that have their own municipal police departments or contract with the Sacramento County sheriff for their policing are: Elk Grove, 170,000, municipal department; Citrus Heights, 88,000, municipal department; Folsom, 78,000, municipal department; Isleton, sheriff contract; Rancho Cordova, 73,000, sheriff contract; Galt, population 26,000, municipal department.

Politics

Voter registration

Cities by population and voter registration

Overview

Sacramento County was politically competitive in most presidential elections between 1976 and 2004, but now votes significantly in favor of the Democratic candidates. Candidates from the Democratic Party have carried the county in the past eight presidential elections, and have won a majority of the county's votes four times during that time (in 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020). The city of Sacramento is strongly Democratic, while rural areas are strongly Republican; suburban areas are more divided. This pattern is also present in congressional and state legislative elections. The last Republican presidential candidate to win a majority in the county was George H. W. Bush in 1988.

United States presidential election results for Sacramento County, California[27]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 259,405 36.11% 440,808 61.36% 18,227 2.54%
2016 189,789 33.75% 326,023 57.98% 46,473 8.27%
2012 202,514 39.13% 300,503 58.06% 14,565 2.81%
2008 213,583 39.34% 316,506 58.30% 12,770 2.35%
2004 235,539 49.29% 236,657 49.52% 5,670 1.19%
2000 195,619 45.33% 212,792 49.31% 23,139 5.36%
1996 166,049 40.76% 203,019 49.83% 38,346 9.41%
1992 160,366 35.36% 197,540 43.56% 95,606 21.08%
1988 201,832 51.01% 188,557 47.65% 5,301 1.34%
1984 204,922 55.56% 159,128 43.14% 4,791 1.30%
1980 153,721 47.72% 130,031 40.37% 38,368 11.91%
1976 123,110 44.63% 144,203 52.27% 8,563 3.10%
1972 141,218 49.00% 137,287 47.63% 9,716 3.37%
1968 97,177 41.66% 118,769 50.92% 17,300 7.42%
1964 77,871 34.17% 149,668 65.68% 332 0.15%
1960 84,252 43.26% 109,695 56.32% 809 0.42%
1956 67,686 45.10% 82,134 54.73% 260 0.17%
1952 67,207 49.02% 69,066 50.37% 837 0.61%
1948 35,074 37.78% 54,197 58.38% 3,571 3.85%
1944 24,611 33.16% 49,204 66.30% 403 0.54%
1940 23,201 30.76% 51,351 68.09% 864 1.15%
1936 12,119 20.14% 47,265 78.53% 800 1.33%
1932 14,553 27.74% 36,370 69.32% 1,542 2.94%
1928 20,762 50.83% 19,684 48.19% 403 0.99%
1924 13,400 41.08% 2,285 7.01% 16,932 51.91%
1920 15,634 64.87% 7,150 29.67% 1,316 5.46%
1916 10,696 40.19% 14,538 54.63% 1,379 5.18%
1912 36 0.19% 9,869 51.39% 9,300 48.42%
1908 6,515 55.15% 4,533 38.37% 766 6.48%
1904 6,666 65.23% 2,384 23.33% 1,170 11.45%
1900 5,506 54.78% 4,325 43.03% 220 2.19%
1896 4,600 47.68% 4,831 50.07% 217 2.25%
1892 4,362 48.92% 3,498 39.23% 1,057 11.85%
1888 4,769 56.37% 3,447 40.74% 244 2.88%
1884 4,367 60.15% 2,659 36.63% 234 3.22%
1880 3,794 56.11% 2,817 41.66% 151 2.23%

In gubernatorial elections, Sacramento County is typically a bellwether, having voted for the winner every time since 1962 with the exception of 1970 and 2002.

Gubernatorial election results
Sacramento County vote
by party in gubernatorial elections
Year GOP DEM
2018 41.2% 212,010 58.8% 302,696
2014 37.7% 122,342 62.3% 202,416
2010 38.5% 162,369 56.7% 239,599
2006 60.5% 218,889 34.2% 123,685
2003 52.3% 195,435 26.5% 98,877
2002 46.6% 147,456 40.8% 129,143
1998 39.7% 142,970 57.4% 206,870
1994 54.8% 196,229 40.9% 146,423
1990 50.3% 167,982 44.7% 149,215
1986 68.1% 207,086 30.1% 91,660
1982 52.4% 171,176 44.7% 146,167
1978 34.7% 88,445 54.9% 139,821
1974 45.9% 104,595 51.6% 117,711
1970 46.0% 105,523 52.5% 120,365
1966 50.9% 109,801 49.1% 105,861
1962 37.7% 71,788 60.7% 115,462

In the House of Representatives, all of California's 6th congressional district and portions of its 3rd, and 7th districts are in the county.[28]

In the State Assembly, all of the 7th and 8th districts and parts of the 6th, 9th, and 11th districts are in the county.

In the State Senate, parts of the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 8th districts are in the county.

According to the California Secretary of State, as of October 22, 2012, Sacramento County has 698,899 registered voters, out of 944,243 eligible (74%). Of those, 306,960 (44%) are registered Democrats, 225,688 (32%) are registered Republicans, and 134,677 (19%) have declined to state a political party.[29]

Crime

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

Cities by population and crime rates

Education

Colleges and universities
Public universities
Community colleges
Private, not for profit
Private, for profit

K-12 education

School districts include:[33]

K-12:

Secondary:

Elementary:

Transportation
Main article: Transportation in the Sacramento metropolitan area
Pocket-Greenhaven

Public Transportation

Sacramento Regional Transit District, also known as Sacramento RT, provides public transit throughout the county. It operates bus services, as well as light rail services on the Blue, Green, and Gold lines. In addition, the Yolobus provides Sacramento County with service connecting to destinations in neighboring Yolo County, such as Davis. Sacramento RT and Yolobus both provide bus services connecting Sacramento with Sacramento International Airport.

Amtrak and its Amtrak California subsidiary operate passenger rail service from the Sacramento Valley station. This station is served by the Coast Starlight, the California Zephyr, the Capitol Corridor, and the San Joaquins, which link the region with destinations across California and the United States.

Major highways

Airports

Sacramento International Airport is a major, full-service airport with passenger flights. It is owned by the County of Sacramento. The county also owns Sacramento Mather Airport in Rancho Cordova and Sacramento Executive Airport, both of which are general aviation airports. Sacramento McClellan Airport, formerly McClellan Air Force Base, is a privately owned airport between North Highlands and Rio Linda. There are also privately owned public use airports located in Elk Grove and Rio Linda.

Public roadways

The Sacramento County Department of Transportation (SACDOT)[34] maintains approximately 2200 miles of roadway within the unincorporated area. The roads range from six lane thoroughfares to rural roads.[35]

Communities
Elk Grove
Folsom Lake

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated community

Former townships
The 14 civil townships, 1885

In February 1851, the county was divided into eight civil townships: the seven marked by asterisks below, plus Sacramento township. In July of that year, American township was divided off from Sacramento township. In 1856, the Board of Supervisors realigned the divisions into the 14 civil townships below, plus the city of Sacramento.[36]

  • Alabama
  • American
  • Brighton*
  • Center*
  • Cosumnes*
  • Dry Creek
  • Franklin
  • Georgiana
  • Granite
  • Lee
  • Mississippi*
  • Natoma*
  • San Joaquin*
  • Sutter*

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Sacramento County.[37]

† county seat

Rank City/town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Sacramento (State Capital) City 524,943
2 Elk Grove City 176,124
3 Arden-Arcade CDP 94,659
4 Citrus Heights City 87,583
5 Folsom City 80,454
6 Carmichael CDP 79,793
7 Rancho Cordova City 79,332
8 Florin CDP 52,388
9 North Highlands CDP 49,327
10 Antelope CDP 48,733
11 Vineyard CDP 43,935
12 Foothill Farms CDP 35,834
13 Orangevale CDP 35,569
14 Fair Oaks CDP 32,514
15 Galt City 25,383
16 Rosemont CDP 23,510
17 Parkway CDP 15,962
18 Rio Linda CDP 15,944
19 Lemon Hill CDP 14,496
20 La Riviera CDP 11,252
21 Gold River CDP 7,844
22 Fruitridge Pocket CDP 6,102
23 Wilton CDP 5,958
24 Rancho Murieta CDP 5,903
25 Elverta CDP 5,435
26 Mather CDP 4,698
27 Walnut Grove CDP 1,452
28 Clay CDP 1,252
29 Herald CDP 1,160
30 McClellan Park CDP 926
31 Isleton City 794
32 Courtland CDP 326
33 Hood CDP 244
34 Franklin CDP 167
35 Freeport CDP 58

See also

Notes
  1. Other = some other race / two or more races
  2. Native American = Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander + American Indian or Alaska Native
  3. Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.

References
  1. "Chronology". California State Association of Counties. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  2. "County Board of Supervisors".
  3. Carpenter Hill
  4. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  5. "Sacramento County, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  7. McGough, Michael (April 29, 2022). "Southern California gets drastic water cutbacks amid drought. What's next for Sacramento?". amp.sacbee.com. Sacramento, California: The Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  9. "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  11. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  13. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Sacramento County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  14. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Sacramento County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  15. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  16. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  17. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  18. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  19. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  20. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  21. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  22. Data unavailable
  23. "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
  24. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  25. California Government Code § 23004
  26. California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration Archived July 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  27. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  28. "California's 7th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  29. CA Secretary of State – Report of Registration – October 22, 2012 Archived November 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  30. Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  31. Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
  32. United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California). Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  33. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Sacramento County, CA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  34. "Sacramento County Department of Transportation (SACDOT)".
  35. "Mileage of Maintained Roadways".
  36. Davis, Winfield J. (1890). An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. Lewis Pub. Co. pp. 208–209. OCLC 181326892.
  37. "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
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