S acramento County, California the place where in 1848 gold was first discovered by James Marshall. This was the beginning the now famous Gold Rush. At that time, news traveled quite slowly and even when this news reached the city of San Francisco it was only given a passing mention on the back page of the local newspaper. The real fever had not kicked in yet. Not until a local merchant by the name San Brannan who collected some nuggets and put them into a bottle shouting throughout San Francisco that there was gold in "them thar hills," did the famed fever take hold.

Today Sacramento County is the eighth most populous county in California with a population of 1,230,700 residents. Sacramento County is made up of seven cities including Sacramento, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Isleton, and Rancho Cordova. The county's largest city, Sacramento, is the seat of government for the state and also serves as the county seat.

Sacramento County is made up of approximately 994 square miles in the heart of the 400-mile long Central Valley, which is California's prime agricultural region. The County is bordered by Contra Costa and San Joaquin Counties on the south, Amador and El Dorado Counties on the east, Placer and Sutter Counties on the north, and Yolo and Solano Counties on the west. Sacramento County extends from the low delta lands between the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers north to about ten miles beyond the State Capitol and east to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The southernmost portion of Sacramento County has direct access to the San Francisco Bay.

The location of the capital within the county, in a state whose economy is ranked the sixth largest in the world, gives the area a pulse and energy that is unique. The economy of the region alone, at $58.1 billion, would rank 79 out of 172 if it were a nation. There's a strong sense of working together among community leaders. Agriculture and commerce blend cohesively and creatively. Over the years, high-tech companies have moved here, and now the high-tech output of the region places Sacramento at 21st out of 100 other metro areas. There are a thousand miles of Delta waterways to play on, the American River Parkway bike trail to ride on, and annual events like the world-famous Sacramento Dixieland Jazz Jubilee. Recently, the River Cats minor league baseball franchise built the family-friendly Raley Field in West Sacramento setting new attendance records, and Sacramento is home to one of today's hottest NBA teams-the Sacramento Kings.

Citrus Heights only recently gained its city status incorporating in 1997. This community of more than 85,071 people clearly has its own identity. Within the neighborhoods you will discover an abundance of parks, nature areas and recreational activities. If you love to shop, the community is one of the county's major retail centers, featuring Sunrise mall, many smaller shopping centers, and the completely renovated Birdcage Walk. Citrus Heights now boasts its own police and fire services, a long history of growth and rapidly solidifying internal structures.

Elk Grove is the second-fastest-growing area in the region and California's first new city of the 21st Century, with a population growth currently at 72,687 residents. However, its ability to maintain the ambiance of the small town that began back in 1850 makes Elk Grove dear to its residents. As the population has grown so have its retail and service businesses. This has allowed Elk Grove to beautifully blend that small-town feeling with all the amenities of an urban area.

Located about 20 miles east of the city of Sacramento, in the county's easternmost corner, Folsom is considered the gateway to the Sierra. The foothill county of El Dorado, famous for its wineries and apple orchards, is just minutes away. Folsom's northern boundary is Folsom Lake, an 18,000-acre, man-made lake that draws more than four million visitors a year. The town also is intersected by a wide stretch of the American River called Lake Natoma, which is highlighted by walking, biking, and equestrian trails. Both bodies of water are places to sail a boat, catch a fish, or find a quiet, sandy spot to swim or sunbathe. Folsom has miles of preserved wetlands and creeks, also bordered by developed trails, rolling hills, and an abundance of beautiful views.

G alt is a charming, growing community with a current population of 21,100 residents. It is centrally located and is an easy commute to Sacramento or Stockton. Galt has found a good balance between growth, a business friendly environment and embracing the kind of values predominant in a small town. Galt has the Industrial Park that provides inexpensive space for companies considering relocation, and the area has one of the lowest utility rates in the state.

Isleton today is almost synonymous with the Crawdad Festival. Indeed, it's known as "Crawdad Town USA." The festive town of Isleton has a population 840 and is located along the Sacramento River in the California Delta. With so much water around, Isleton attract its share of boaters and fishermen. You can catch striped bass, sturgeon, catfish, black bass and more. You can even trap crawdads! There are numerous marinas here and many people from the San Francisco Bay area and Sacramento keep their boats permanently at one of the local marinas.

R ancho Cordova has a current population of approximately 96,000 residents and is fast becoming a world-class city with the growth of a vibrant business community, incoming technology firms and the redevelopment of Mather Field (previously Mather Air Force Base). The neighborhoods have been revitalized and businesses are succeeding. A light rail public transit line is currently being extended from downtown Sacramento to Folsom.

Peacefully located in the lush valley of scenic rivers and canopies of trees, Sacramento County is a cosmopolitan blending of tall, gleaming buildings, hearty Victorians city homes, diverse and blossoming communities, splendid restaurants and shops, a vibrant arts scene, stunning attractions and exciting events.

If you are considering moving to Sacramento County, or would like more information, please feel free to request a "free relocation package" today!