The City of Sacramento (population 400,018) is the cultural, educational, business and governmental center of a four county metropolitan region. As California's capitol city, Sacramento is center stage for governmental policy for the entire state. A dynamic business sector, an expanding public transportation system (including Light Rail), affordable housing, and growing cultural, educational, and medical facilities serve the needs of 1.5 million people.

Founded in 1849, Sacramento was California's first charter city and is at the heart of California history - the gold rush, Pony Express and first continental railroad all began in Sacramento. The confluence of two of the state's largest rivers is just a short walk from the steps of City Hall. San Francisco , Lake Tahoe and Yosemite Valley, all offering a wide variety of recreational and cultural activities, are just a few hours away. The city's rich historical heritage, commitment to quality of life, and abundance of trees and parkland contributed to Newsweek magazine naming Sacramento one of the ten best cities in the United States.

Sacramentans enjoy professional ballet, opera, theater, outstanding museums , one of the best small zoos in the country, and the NBA's Sacramento Kings . Each year the city hosts the world's largest Dixieland Jazz Jubilee , and many other recreational, entertainment and cultural activities.

Sacramento has also become one of California's main tourist centers. The restored State Capitol , miles of rivers and river parkways , North America's largest railroad museum, and the Old Sacramento restoration are just a few of the City's many attractions. The region is served by law schools, a California State University, a University of California campus, and numerous community colleges.

Sacramento is a progressive city with great pride in its ethnic and cultural diversity, concern for environmental and social issues, and emphasis on quality in the provision of governmental services.

Sutter's Fort, State Historic Park
In 1839 a Swiss immigrant named John Sutter received a 48,000-acre land grant in the Sacramento Valley from the Mexican government. He used the land to create a flourishing agricultural empire and named it New Helvetia (New Switzerland.) This empire established Sacramento's earliest settlement and the first non-Indian settlement in California's Central Valley.

In 1847 Sutter sent aid to the Donner Party, a group of immigrants trapped in a winter storm in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Word spread and Sutter became known for his hospitality and for providing temporary refuge to travelers. This reputation made New Helvetia the destination for early immigrants to California.

Less than a decade after they were established, Sutter's properties were overrun by gold seekers and the fort is all that remains of New Helvetia. It has been restored to its former state based on an 1847 map published in Darmstadt, Germany and is open daily for tours. The Sutter fort sits right beside the main campus of Sutter Medical Center.

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