Sacramento is the capital city of the state of California, located in the northern part of the San Joaquin Valley. As of 2025, The city has a population of 524,943, making it the sixth largest city in California.
The city is located where the American River empties into the Sacramento River. It is very flood-prone and is nearly surrounded by levees. Sacramento has been California’s capital since 1854. Within the city, the California Legislature meets in the California Statehouse. The Governor of California resides in Sacramento’s Leland Stanford Mansion.
As of 2025, Sacramento is the fastest growing city in California, owing to its status as the West Coast’s main political center. It is the hub of California’s healthcare industry, being the headquarters of Sutter Health. Sacramento is also home to one professional sports team; the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association. Despite these milestones, the city is often forgotten by the general public in comparison to the other major California cities.