About Solano County
Solano County is a special place, with its inviting mix of rural and suburban lifestyles and easy access to all of the urban amenities associated with two of the nation’s most dynamic metropolitan regions. Situated midway between San Francisco and Sacramento—the State capitol, Solano County is home to rolling hillsides, waterfronts and fertile farmland. County residents can enjoy day trips to the San Francisco Bay area, Lake Tahoe region and the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Thanks to a mild climate, plenty of open space, proximity to lakes, rivers and mountains, residents can enjoy year round outdoor recreational activities like fishing, boating, skiing, hiking and biking.
Solano County was one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood.
You may visit the Solano County website to learn more at www.solanocounty.com
Cities in Solano County
Benicia, California
Benicia is a waterside city in Solano County, California, located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The city is located along the north bank of the Carquinez Strait. Benicia is just east of Vallejo and across the strait from Martinez.
Founded in 1849, historic Benicia was the third city to incorporate in the State in 1851. It became the third State Capitol in 1853.
Dixon, California
The first settlement in the Dixon area was founded in 1852 by Elijah S. Silvey, whose search for gold landed him in these parts during the California gold rush. Silvey realized an easier way to make his fortune than digging and panning was to open an inn and saloon. This half-way house was located along a well-traveled stage coach route to the gold fields of Sacramento, which became famous among area miners. By 1865, the community of Silveyville boasted a general store, post office, blacksmith, and had a population of 150 people.
Farfield, California
Fairfield is the county seat of, Solano County, California, in the North Bay sub-region of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is generally considered the midpoint between the cities of San Francisco and Sacramento, approximately 40 miles (64 km) from the city center of both cities, approximately 40 miles (64 km) from the city center of Oakland, less than 19 miles (31 km) from Napa Valley, 16 miles (26 km) from the Carquinez Bridge, and 14 miles (23 km) from the Benicia Bridge. Fairfield was founded in 1856 by clippership captain Robert H. Waterman, and named after his former hometown of Fairfield, Connecticut.
It is the home of Travis Air Force Base and the headquarters of Jelly Belly.
Other nearby cities include Vallejo, Suisun City, Vacaville, Rio Vista, Benicia, and Napa.
Rio Vista, California
The present location of Rio Vista is several miles south of the original settlement. Colonel Nathan H. Davis founded "Brazos del Rio" near the entrance of Cache Slough at the Sacramento River, on the Rancho Los Ulpinos Mexican land grant, in 1858. The settlement was renamed "Rio Vista" before a flood in 1862 that resulted in the town moving to its present location on higher ground. The city's name combines the Spanish words for "river" and "view." Post authorities established office in 1858. The community was officially incorporated as Rio Vista on December 30, 1893.
Suisun City, California
Suisun City takes its name from the adjacent Suisun Bay, which in turn is named for the Suisun people, an indigenous Native American tribe of the area.
Suisun City was established in the 1850s. Its location made it ideal for commerce and transportation during the California Gold Rush.
In 1868—1869, the First Transcontinental Railroad connected to downtown Suisun City via the California Pacific Railroad, expanding the region's reach across the United States.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Suisun City experienced rapid growth as the San Francisco Bay Area's suburban ring expanded to the formerly rural Solano County. Also in the 1960s, Interstate 80 was constructed two miles (3 km) outside the city, effectively moving commercial traffic away from railways and water conveyance.
Vacaville, California
Vacaville, California is located in northern Solano County, midway between San Francisco and Sacramento. The City of Vacaville, incorporated in 1892 and currently comprising just under 27 square miles, has a beautiful setting bordered by rolling hillsides, fruit orchards and fertile farmland.
The City's rich history has transformed the community from a small agricultural town into a thriving and progressive city; now a diverse population of 97,446 residents call Vacaville home. While the City’s population history and demographics show its rapid growth, Vacaville remains a “small town at heart,” whose residents pride themselves on the high level of community involvement.
Vallejo, California
Formally incorporated in 1868, Vallejo's history dates back to 1835. Vallejo is Solano County's most diverse city as well as one of the nation's. Vallejo is located at the northeastern edge of the San Francisco Bay Region. It is within easy commute distance of major employment centers such as San Francisco, Oakland-Berkeley, as well as Walnut Creek/Concord and the Tri-Vallejo area, and within acceptable commute range of the State Capitol of Sacramento. Being within close proximity to the San Francisco and Sacramento metropolitan areas and having accessible transportation, Vallejo is seeing a growing population and a growing economy.