Sacramento, dubbed River City, is the capital of California, the 7th largest city in the state and the seat of Sacramento County. With a population of over 460,000, the city sits busily along the banks of the Sacramento River, ergo River City.

There is an interesting historical note about the city is in regards to the two floods that occurred in 1850 and 1861. In response, the city increased the landfill level in 1862, which caused the first floor of buildings to become basements. The basements were later connected by tunnels underneath the streets of Old Sacramento. The tunnels became flophouses for illegal gambling, speakeasies and opium hideouts, and are now almost completely filled in. You can still see parts, however, of what was called the Old Sacramento Underground.

The city’s early economy exploded with the gold rush and railroad construction. Gold mines are still in production today, and the city remains a critical transportation hub. Connected to San Francisco’s deep-water port through a 43-mile channel, the city handles cargo from ocean-faring ships.

Major employers in the city are based, in order of significance, in government, transportation, technology, leisure and hospitality, education, health services, construction, agriculture and mining. Hewlett-Packard and Intel are the largest technology employers in the city drawn by easy access to a well-educated labor pool and the close proximity to high-profile research centers.

Education is a business here in Sacramento. There are as many facilities for higher learning as you can shake a stick at. Primary levels of learning are even more ubiquitous. With public schools aplenty and prevalent parochial schools, independent school systems have made their mark in the area, too. Sacramento Country Day School is an affiliate of the California Association of Independent Schools and the Sacramento Waldorf School, with an expansive riverside campus, is hosted by the suburb of Fair Oak.

Besides work and school, there are a lot of things to do in Sacramento to keep you busy. There are museums that host a variety of visual arts, philharmonics, symphonies, choral and orchestras, classical music programs, Broadway plays and world-class ballet all place this city in a class of its own.

If sports is your thing, the NBA team the Sacramento Kings and the WNBA team the Sacramento Monarchs games are both hosted here at ARCO Arena. Many other minor league teams also play in the local sports arenas.

Some notable people associated with Sacramento are Rodney King of the 1992 Los Angeles riots fame, astronaut Stephen Robinson, record producer Charlie Peacock, philosopher Cornwell West, photographer Michael Williamson, writer Joan Didion and designer architect Ray Eames.

Just as impressive as its credentials is the city’s real estate. A recently rehabbed single 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom, one-car garage, ranch-style home with 1421 sq. ft. of living space can be had for $90,000. Of course, for more affluent neighborhoods and amenities, you’ll need to pay beginning in the $200,000 range.. Condos, townhomes, single-family homes and regal manors in the millionaires are all right here in Sacramento. So much real estate, so little time! With all the homes on the market now, you’ll find one priced just right for you.

If you make a stop in scenic Sacramento, you’ll want to call it home!