SACRAMENTO

city, capital of California, U.S., seat (1850) of Sacramento county, in the Central Valley, where the Sacramento and American rivers meet. John Augustus Sutter established the colony of New Helvetia in 1839 on the site, a Mexican land grant, and between 1840 and 1842 built a palisaded trading post known as Sutter's Fort. His community, initially populated by fellow Swiss immigrants, prospered as an agricultural centre and as a refuge for American pioneers until the 1849 gold rush. It was at Sutter's Mill, 35 miles (56 km) northeast on the American River, near Coloma, that Sutter's boss carpenter, James W. Marshall, found the first gold on January 24, 1848. Hordes of prospectors pillaged Sutter's property, and, deeply in debt, he deeded his lands to his son who laid out the present city in 1848, naming it for the Sacramento River. Profiting from the mining trade, Sacramento grew rapidly and was the scene of an armed squatter's riot to determine the legality of Sutter's grant. With a population of more than 6,000 in 1854, it was chosen the state capital. Later it suffered several devastating floods and fires. A hub of river transportation since Sutter started a steamer service, Sacramento was the western terminus of the Pony Express and the terminus of the first California railroad (the Sacramento Valley Railroad to Folsom). A modern ship canal, completed in 1963 to San Francisco Bay (88 miles southwest ), made it a deepwater port with barge connections to inland distribution points. The city is the centre of extensive agricultural production: dairy products, beef cattle, fruit, wheat, rice, and vegetables. Food processing, printing, aerospace industries, and nearby military installations, such as the Sacramento Army Depot, are economic mainstays. The Roman golden-domed Corinthian State Capitol (constructed 186974), in the heart of the city, is surrounded by 40 acres (15 hectares) of parkland. California State University, Sacramento, was established in 1947, Sacramento City College in 1916, the American River College in 1955, and Cosumnes River College in 1970. Sutter's Fort has been restored within a state historic park. The California State Fair and Exposition and a Camellia Festival are held annually. The city of North Sacramento was annexed in 1965. Inc. city, 1850. Pop. (1990) city, 369,365; Sacramento PMSA, 1,340,010; (1998 est.) city, 404,168; (1996 est.) Sacramento PMSA, 1,482,208.