Sacramento, Cal., the capital and fifth
city of the state and the county seat of
Sacramento County, is on the Sacramento
River and on the Western Pacific and
Southern Pacific railroads, 90 miles northeast
of San Francisco. The environs of
the city are highly attractive, and the
river valley is one of the most productive
agricultural regions in the state.
The most conspicuous building is the
state capital, which occupies a commanding
position in the center of a thirty-four-acre
park. Other features of Sacramento
are McKinley, South Side, City Plaza and
Recreation parks, the state fair ground,
Fruit Exchange, Masonic Temple, court
house, post office, Roman Catholic cathedral,
Federal building and a number of
Protestant churches.
The noteworthy educational and other
institutions are the graded public and parochial
and high schools, Christian Brothers' College,
Heald's Business College,
St. Joseph's Academy, and Howe's Academy,
and state, public and Odd Fellows'
libraries; city, county and Southern Pacific
Railroad hospitals, Marguerite Home
and the Protestant Orphan Asylum.
Fruit packing and canning establishments,
preparing for the market the
valuable product of Sacramento Valley
orchards, are among the most important
manufactories. Other plants produce furniture,
harness and saddles, soap, sewer
and water pipe, mattresses, pumps, dressed
meats, flour and grist, and foundry and
machine shop products.
The first settlement was made here in
1839 by Captain John A. Sutter on land
held under grant from the government of
Mexico. He built a fort and fur trading
post, naming it New Helvetia. The fort
has been restored and is still to be seen.
In 1848 the village of Sacramento was
planned, and was chosen as the state capital
in 1854. A city charter was secured in
1863. The inhabitants of Sacramento numbered
73,451 in 1926.
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