Vacaville, California
Encyclopedia
Vacaville, California is a city located in the northeastern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...

 in Solano County
Solano County, California
Solano County is a county located in Bay-Delta region of the U.S. state of California, about halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento and is one of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. The county's population was reported by the U.S. Census to be 413,344 in 2010...

. The city is nearly half way between Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...

 and San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...

 on I-80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...

. It sits approximately 35 miles (56.3 km) from Sacramento, and 45 miles (72.4 km) from San Francisco. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 92,428.

History

The city was founded in 1850 by William McDaniel
William McDaniel
William McDaniel was a U.S. Representative from Missouri.-Missouri:Born in Grayson County, Kentucky, McDaniel moved to Missouri in the late 1820s. He served as member of the State senate in 1838 and 1840. He served in the Missouri Volunteers during the Seminole War. McDaniel was elected...

, on a part of the 1843 Mexican land grant Rancho Los Putos
Rancho Los Putos
Rancho Los Putos was a Mexican land grant in present day Solano County, California given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Juan Felipe Peña and Juan Manuel Cabeza Vaca. The Los Putos name comes from the nearby Putah Creek...

 purchased from Manuel Cabeza Vaca.

The city was a Pony Express
Pony Express
The Pony Express was a fast mail service crossing the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the High Sierra from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, from April 3, 1860 to October 1861...

 stop and was home to many large produce companies and local farms which flourished due to the Vaca Valley's rich soil, including The Nut Tree
The Nut Tree
Nut Tree is a mixed-use development in Vacaville, California near the intersection of Interstate 80 and Interstate 505. It opened in 1921 on old U.S. Route 40...

.

At one time an Onion Festival was held annually. This stopped in 2000 due to the onion processing plant being closed down.

Geography and environment

There are a number of rare
Rare species
A rare species is a group of organisms that are very uncommon or scarce. This designation may be applied to either a plant or animal taxon, and may be distinct from the term "endangered" or "threatened species" but not "extinct"....

 and endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...

 in the Vacaville area. Endangered plants which have historically occurred in the vernal pool areas in and around Vacaville include Legenre limosa, Plagiobothrys hystriculus, Downingia humilis, Contra Costa Goldfields (Lasthenia conjugens
Lasthenia conjugens
Lasthenia conjugens, commonly known as Contra Costa goldfields, is an endangered species of wildflower endemic to a limited range within the San Francisco Bay Area of the state of California, USA. Specifically this rare species occurs in Napa, Santa Barbara , Solano, Contra Costa, Santa Clara,...

), and Showy Indian clover (Trifolium amoenum
Trifolium amoenum
Trifolium amoenum, known by the common name Showy Indian clover is endemic to California, and is an endangered annual herb that subsists in grassland areas of the San Francisco Bay Area and the northern California Coast Ranges.-Description:...

). However, Showy Indian clover is now thought to be extinct throughout Solano County.

According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...

, the city has a total area of 28.6 square miles (74.1 km²). 99.26% of the area is land and 0.74% is water. Excluding the Putah South Canal and minor local creek
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...

s, the only significant body of water within the city is the 105 acre (0.4249203 km²) Lagoon Valley Lake.

The unincorporated communities of Allendale
Allendale, Solano County, California
Allendale is an census-designated place in Solano County, California, United States. Allendale is located along Interstate 505 west of Dixon...

 and Elmira
Elmira, California
Elmira is a census-designated place in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 188 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Elmira is located at ....

 are generally considered to be part of "greater" Vacaville.

Climate

Vacaville has a typical Mediterranean climate
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...

 with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Characteristic of inland California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

, summers can get quite hot. Autumns are warm in the early part but quickly cool down as the wet season approaches. Winters can be cold, and often foggy, but are mild compared to other regions. Spring is a rather pleasant season with fairly mild temperatures and not so much rain. The greater majority of precipitation falls in the autumn, winter, and spring months with little to none in summer.

According to National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...

 records, average January temperatures in Vacaville are a maximum of 55.4 °F (13 °C) and a minimum of 36.7 °F (2.6 °C). Average July temperatures are a maximum of 95.2 °F (35.1 °C) and a minimum of 56.1 °F (13.4 °C). There are an average of 87.7 days with highs of 90 °F (32.2 °C) or higher. There are an average of 30.7 days with lows of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower. The record high temperature was 116 °F (46.7 °C) on July 23, 2006. The record low temperature was 14 °F (-10 °C) on December 26, 1924.

Average annual precipitation is 24.55 inches (623.6 mm). There are an average of 57 days with measurable precipitation. The wettest year was 1983 with 48.9 inches (1,242.1 mm) and the driest year was 1976 with 8.13 inches (206.5 mm). The most precipitation in one month was 19.83 inches (503.7 mm) in January 1916. The most precipitation in 24 hours was 6.1 inches (154.9 mm) on February 27, 1940. Snowfall is rare in Vacaville, but light measurable amounts have occurred, including 2.2 inches (55.9 mm) in January 1907 and 2 inches (50.8 mm) in December 1988.

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Vacaville had a population of 92,428. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 was 3,233.5 people per square mile (1,248.5/km²). The racial makeup of Vacaville was 61,301 (66.3%) White, 9,510 (10.3%) African American, 846 (0.9%) Native American, 5,606 (6.1%) Asian (3.3% Filipino, 0.7% Chinese, 0.6% Indian, 0.5% Japanese, 0.3% Vietnamese, 0.3% Korean), 532 (0.6%) Pacific Islander, 8,136 (8.8%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, and 6,497 (7.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21,121 persons (22.9%); 17.0% of Vacaville is Mexican, 0.9% Puerto Rican, 0.5% Salvadoran, 0.3% Nicaraguan, 0.2% Guatemalan, and 0.2% Peruvian.

The Census reported that 91.3% of the population lived in households and 8.6% were institutionalized.

There were 31,092 households, out of which 11,747 (37.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 16,347 (52.6%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 living together, 4,068 (13.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,686 (5.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,892 (6.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....

, and 208 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 7,053 households (22.7%) were made up of individuals and 2,689 (8.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71. There were 22,101 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...

 (71.1% of all households); the average family size was 3.19.

The population was spread out with 21,511 people (23.3%) under the age of 18, 8,963 people (9.7%) aged 18 to 24, 26,269 people (28.4%) aged 25 to 44, 26,016 people (28.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 9,669 people (10.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.2 years. For every 100 females there were 112.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.1 males.

There were 32,814 housing units at an average density of 1,148.0 per square mile (443.2/km²), of which 63.4% were owner-occupied and 36.6% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.8%. 59.0% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 32.3% lived in rental housing units.

2000

As of the 2000 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

, there are 88,625 people residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 is 1,263.6/km² (3,272.3/mi²). There are 28,696 housing units at an average density of 409.1/km² (1,059.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 72.11% White, 10.02% African American, 0.97% Native American, 4.18% Asian, 0.45% Pacific Islander, 6.74% from other races, and 5.53% from two or more races. 17.88% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 28,105 households, 20,966 are families: 41.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% are married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 living together, 12.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% are non-families. 19.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.83 and the average family size is 3.24.

The median age is 34 years, and the age distribution of the population is rather spread out: 27.0% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 35.4% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who are 65 years of age or older. However, the sex ratio is higher than the national average. For every 100 females there are 118.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 124.7 males.
Vacaville has the highest per capita concentration of electric car
Electric car
An electric car is an automobile which is propelled by electric motor, using electrical energy stored in batteries or another energy storage device. Electric cars were popular in the late-19th century and early 20th century, until advances in internal combustion engine technology and mass...

s in the world, giving it the nickname "Voltageville".

In 2010 Vacaville had a population of 92,428. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 55.0% non-Hispanic white, 9.9% non-Hispanic black, 2.4% Native American, 9.2% Asian, 1.4% Pacific Islander, 0.8% non-Hispanic of some other race, 7.0% two or more races and 22.9% Hispanic or Latino.

Personal income

The median income
Income
Income is the consumption and savings opportunity gained by an entity within a specified time frame, which is generally expressed in monetary terms. However, for households and individuals, "income is the sum of all the wages, salaries, profits, interests payments, rents and other forms of earnings...

 for a household in the city is $57,667, and the median income for a family is $63,950. Males have a median income of $43,527 versus $31,748 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...

 for the city is $21,557. 6.1% of the population and 4.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 7.4% of those under the age of 18 and 4.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Industry

There are biotechnology/pharmaceutical facilities operated by Genentech
Genentech
Genentech Inc., or Genetic Engineering Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology corporation, founded in 1976 by venture capitalist Robert A. Swanson and biochemist Dr. Herbert Boyer. Trailing the founding of Cetus by five years, it was an important step in the evolution of the biotechnology industry...

, ALZA Corporation, Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is an integrated managed care consortium, based in Oakland, California, United States, founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney Garfield...

, and Novartis International AG
Novartis
Novartis International AG is a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland, ranking number three in sales among the world-wide industry...

.

Tourism

The city holds annual Vacaville Fiesta Days, which includes a parade that features the public school marching bands, gymnasts, and even an electric car showcase, among other things. Other sites for tourists include the Vacaville Premium Outlets and The Nut Tree, which is home to a train for children and even a life-size checkerboard, as well as numerous stores and places to eat. Every December, the city holds a Festival of Trees in the ice skating rink and the Tree Lighting Ceremony in which residents of Vacaville gather in downtown to see a 50 feet (15.2 m) tree illuminate and enjoy festive music, hot chocolate, and horse-drawn carriage rides.

Government

Two state prisons are located in Vacaville: California State Prison, Solano
California State Prison, Solano
California State Prison, Solano is a male-only state prison located in the city of Vacaville, Solano County, California, adjacent to the California Medical Facility...

 and California Medical Facility
California Medical Facility
California Medical Facility is a male-only state prison located in the city of Vacaville, Solano County, California. It is older than California State Prison, Solano, the other state prison in Vacaville.-Facilities:...

.
The latter prison houses inmates undergoing medical treatments.

Top employers

According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
# Employer # of Employees
1 California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is responsible for the operation of the California state prison and parole systems. CDC&R is the second largest law enforcement or police agency in the United States behind the New York City Police Department which employs approximately...

2,915
2 Vacaville Unified School District 1,273
3 Genentech
Genentech
Genentech Inc., or Genetic Engineering Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology corporation, founded in 1976 by venture capitalist Robert A. Swanson and biochemist Dr. Herbert Boyer. Trailing the founding of Cetus by five years, it was an important step in the evolution of the biotechnology industry...

875
4 City of Vacaville 820
5 Alza
ALZA
Alza Corporation was a pharmaceutical and medical systems company founded in 1970's by Dr Alejandro Zaffaroni; the company's name is a portmanteau of his name. Alza pioneered the field of drug delivery systems, bringing over 20 prescription pharmaceutical products to market, and employing about...

750
6 State Compensation Insurance Fund
State Compensation Insurance Fund
The State Compensation Insurance Fund is a workers' compensation insurer that was created as a "public enterprise fund" by the U.S. state of California, and today has partial autonomy from the rest of the state government...

670
7 Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is an integrated managed care consortium, based in Oakland, California, United States, founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney Garfield...

600
8 VacaValley Hospital 470
9 M&G DuraVent 350
10 Travis Credit Union 311

Education

The city has two unified public school districts, a community college district, private schools and colleges.

Public elementary and secondary schools

The Vacaville Unified School District includes the following campuses:

Elementary schools

  • Alamo Elementary
  • Browns Valley Elementary
  • Edwin Markham Elementary
  • Eugene Padan Elementary
  • Fairmont Elementary
  • Cooper Elementary
  • Orchard Elementary
  • Hemlock Elementary
  • Sierra Vista Elementary
  • Jean Callison Elementary
  • Cambridge Elementary

Vacaville Christian Elementary School

Middle schools

  • Vaca Pena Middle School
  • Willis Jepson Middle School

Vacaville Christian Middle School

High schools


Vacaville Christian High School

Travis Unified School District

The Travis Unified School District campuses include:
  • Cambridge Elementary
  • Foxboro Elementary
  • Center Elementary
  • Travis Elementary
  • Scandia Elementary


Its campuses serving Vacaville secondary students are:
  • Golden West Middle School
  • Vanden High School
  • Travis Education Center
  • Travis Community Day School

Private schools

Private institutions with campuses in Vacaville are:
  • Bethany Lutheran Preschool and Elementary School
  • Faith Academy (Independent)
  • Notre Dame Parochial School
  • Vacaville Adventist (Seventh-day Adventist)
  • Vacaville Christian Schools (pre-school through 12th grade)

Colleges and universities

The town has a District supporting the Solano Community College
Solano Community College
Solano Community College is a two-year institution of higher learning located in Fairfield, Solano County, California . It is part of California's public community college system, which comprises 109 campuses in 72 districts across the state.-History:The college was established in 1945 as Vallejo...

. Among others, it offers an associate degree in biotechnology, which could lead to employment with local industries.

Other colleges and universities include:
  • California Maritime Academy
    California Maritime Academy
    The California Maritime Academy is one of 23 campuses in the California State University system and is one of only seven degree-granting maritime academies in the United States...

  • Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Chapman University
    Chapman University
    Chapman University is a private, non-profit university located in Orange, California affiliated with the Christian Church . Known for its blend of liberal arts and professional programs, Chapman University encompasses seven schools and colleges: Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media...

  • The University of Phoenix
    University of Phoenix
    The University of Phoenix is a for-profit institution of higher learning. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Group Inc. which is publicly traded , an S&P 500 corporation based in Phoenix, Arizona...


Notable residents

(B) denotes that the person was born in Vacaville.
  • Arthur Adams (born 1963), Comic book artist known for his work on Longshot
    Longshot
    Longshot is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero best known as a member of the X-Men. He was created by writer Ann Nocenti and artist Art Adams.-Publication history:...

    and Monkeyman and O'Brien
    Monkeyman and O'Brien
    Monkeyman and O'Brien is an American comic book series created by artist Art Adams in 1993. The series was published from 1993 to 1999 by Dark Horse Comics in various types of installments including short features in anthologies, backup stories in other series, a three issue limited series, a two...

    .
  • Andy Bloom
    Andy Bloom (athlete)
    Andrew "Andy" Bloom is an American former Olympic shot putter, two-time national indoor shot put champion, World University Games shot put champion, and NCAA champion in both discus and shot put.-Early and personal life:...

     (born 1973), Olympic shot putter
  • Jarrett Bush
    Jarrett Bush
    Jarrett Bush is an American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2006, but was claimed by Green Bay immediately following the preseason of his rookie year and has played there...

     – NFL player, Green Bay Packers
    Green Bay Packers
    The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...

    .(B)
  • Jermaine Dye
    Jermaine Dye
    Jermaine Trevell Dye is a retired American Major League Baseball right fielder and designated hitter. Dye played with the Atlanta Braves , Kansas City Royals , Oakland Athletics , and the Chicago White Sox . Dye won the World Series MVP with the White Sox in 2005...

     – Major League Baseball player. 2005 World Series
    2005 World Series
    The 2005 World Series, the 101st Major League Baseball championship series, saw the American League champion Chicago White Sox sweep the National League champion Houston Astros four games to none in the best-of-seven-games series, winning their third championship and first since 1917.Home-field...

     MVP with the Chicago White Sox
    Chicago White Sox
    The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...

    .(B)
  • Xzavie Jackson
    Xzavie Jackson
    Xzavie Jackson [ex-ZAY-vee] is a professional gridiron football defensive end for the La Crosse Spartans of the Indoor Football League. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2007...

     – defensive end
    Defensive end
    Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...

     for the Cincinnati Bengals
    Cincinnati Bengals
    The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...

    .
  • Chris Begley
    Fight Fair
    Fight Fair is a pop punk band from San Diego, California, currently based out of San Francisco, California They are signed to Triple Crown Records. They released their debut EP titled "Settle The Score" in 2008...

     – Member of the band Fight Fair
    Fight Fair
    Fight Fair is a pop punk band from San Diego, California, currently based out of San Francisco, California They are signed to Triple Crown Records. They released their debut EP titled "Settle The Score" in 2008...

    .
  • Jacoby Shaddix
    Jacoby Shaddix
    Jacoby Dakota Shaddix is the lead singer of Californian rock band Papa Roach, and along with bassist Tobin Esperance, is the main songwriter for the band.-Early life:...

     – Lead singer of rock band Papa Roach.
  • Casey Sheehan – Awarded Bronze Star with Palm Fronds posthumously for actions in Iraq on April 4, 2004.
  • Cindy Sheehan
    Cindy Sheehan
    Cindy Lee Miller Sheehan is an American anti-war activist whose son, U.S. Army Specialist Casey Sheehan, was killed by enemy action during the Iraq War. She attracted national and international media attention in August 2005 for her extended anti-war protest at a makeshift camp outside President...

     – political activist.
  • Thomas Williams
    Thomas Williams (American football)
    Thomas Washington Williams is an American football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...

     – linebacker
    Linebacker
    A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...

     for the USC Trojans
    USC Trojans
    The USC Trojans are the athletic teams representing the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the Trojans, the women's athletic teams are referred to as either the Trojans or Women of Troy...

    .
  • Kyle DeVan
    Kyle DeVan
    Kyle DeVan is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Oregon State....

     - Offensive Guard for the Indianapolis Colts
    Indianapolis Colts
    The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....


External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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