Sacramento is the capital of the state California, as well as the county seat of Sacramento County. Located in California's Central Valley, along the Sacramento River and just south of the confluence of the American River, it is the seventh-largest city in California.

Until the mid-1800's the northern Californian Central Valley was home to the native Miwok and Maidu Indians who were fishermen and food gatherers. During the days of the Spanish Empire this part of the new world was not viewed as being valuable to settle; nor was it viewed suitable by the Roman Catholic Church, even though some of the Padres arriving in the early 1800's thought otherwise. After the Mexicans declared independence in 1821, the Valley remained as it was until John Sutter requested Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado of Alta California to give him the right to develop the area. Alvarado realized that Sutter's ambitions gave him an opportunity to have a presence in the valley without sending his own military forces there.

In 1840 Sutter's fort was established with the presence of Sutter's own private army composed of the Native Americans who lived in the area. This was the precursor of the city of Sacramento, whose origins included the Bear Flag Revolt, which was initiated by Americans, led by William B. Ide and John C. Fremont who waged war with the Mexican government. There were territorial annexations during this same period, as with the state of Texas, which started the Mexican-American War of 1836-1848. It wasn't until the end of this war with Mexico and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, in 1848 that California was annexed. Under the terms of this treaty California was annexed by the United States, along with the annexation of other territories that had been claimed by the Spaniards during the prior three centuries, and in exchange Mexico received a monetary settlement.

The city of Sacramento was officially recognized by the California State Legislature in February 1850 and was selected as the California state capitol in 1854. During those early years of statehood, and after the gold rush boom petered out, agriculture became a major economic force; and when the railroad developed, with the introduction of refrigeration, fruit became a significant crop in the economy. Today the Sacramento Valley still has a significant agricultural presence; however, the city has developed into a large metropolitan area, and although government maintains a large portion of the employment sector, Sacramento has developed the fields of health services, education, financial, professional and high tech businesses making it the 32nd-largest economy in the nation during 2009 despite economic downtrends.

No dialogue concerning Sacramento is complete without reference to Old Sacramento, a district in the city that helps to feed the tourism industry in the city. Sacramento was originally built along the confluence of two rivers, the Sacramento and the American River, the depths of which allowed the shipping industry to flourish. Devastating floods would occur, flooding the fledgling city on more than one occasion, causing disease and destruction in its wake. To solve this problem, in 1862 landfill was used to raise the streets, creating "basements" of former first floors with the upper floor of buildings now becoming the main, or "first" floor. The lower floors became known as the "Sacramento Underground", some of which can still be seen. Many of these sub-level basements became opium dens, and were filled in. During the latter part of the 1900's the city of Sacramento declared a 28-acre portion of the original town site a State Historic Park known as Old Sacramento. Old Sacramento Historic District is also a U.S. National Historic Landmark District. Here you will find wood planked streets, historic buildings in addition to shops, theaters, historical attractions and at least a dozen museums in and near the area, including the renowned California State Railroad Museum, as well museums relating the history and exhibits of the Gold Rush.