Elk Grove
- Character - Newest City in Sacramento County, middle to upper-class town, although it has built some large
homes.
- Population - 81,400 Median age is 32. Children under 18 years make up 33% of town; Over 55 years, 13%.
- Government - Incorporated since July 2000. Has recent history of easily passing bonds to accommodate abundant new
schools for growth.
- School district - Elk Grove Unified School District.
- Commute - 25 minutes to downtown Sacramento on Route 99; there are plans to extend light rail to Elk Grove. Light
rail is available to the San Francisco Bay area from Laguna.
- Amenities - Two golf courses, several parks, and an annual Strauss Festival. The city is known for its children's
programs, including a variety of sports programs.
- Homes - Many, many new homes set in well-planned subdivisions with local amenities.
Galt
- Character - Farm town with reasonably-priced new homes.
- Population - 21,300 median age of residents is 31. Children and teens 18 years make up 34% of town, over 55 years,
14%.
- Government - Incorporated.
- School district - Galt Elementary and Galt High.
- Commute - 40 minutes to downtown Sacramento on Highway 99 or I-5.
- Amenities - About a dozen parks, including four in the new subdivisions. New library, civic center. Community
center with three swimming pools. Softball complex. Two golf courses near town. Flea market draws thousands. Boys
and Girls Club. Galt is close to Delta and water recreation and not that far from mountains and skiing and camping.
Small horse ranches in vicinity. Town hosts annual Strawberry Festival. Annual old-car festival. Large indoor
complex with basketball courts and soccer setups.
- Homes - 6,153 housing units, of which 4,900 were single homes, 162 single attached, 708 apartments, 383 mobile
homes.
Fruitridge/Florin/South Sacramento
- Character - Area formerly consisted of orchards but saw a housing boom 30 years ago. Characterized by modest and
affordable homes.
- Population - 27,653 median age is 31. Under 18 years is 32% of population; over 55 is 21%.
- Government - Incorporated.
- School district - Served by both Sacramento City School District and Elk Grove Unified School District.
- Commute - Only a few miles from downtown Sacramento.
- Amenities - Two large malls, roller skating rink, 15 parks, community center, swim center, auto mall, supermarkets
and drugstores.
- Homes - Modest and affordable. Many single-family homes under $100,000.
Laguna
- Character - Bedroom Town tide closely to Elk Grove. Both are loaded with new housing.
- Population - About 9,000 Median age of residents is 33. Under 18 years make up 29% of the community; over 55 years,
11%.
- Government - Incorporated.
- School district - Elk Grove School District.
- Commute - 25 minutes to downtown Sacramento in I-5. Has a light rail station to the San Francisco Bay area.
- Amenities - Well-planned subdivisions with a sense of community: lakes, town center, recreation, front
porches.
- Homes - Many nice subdivisions.
Sacramento
- Character - The Capital of California and the largest city in central California, Sacramento is a pretty town that
is loaded with trees and located at the junction of two rivers, the American and the Sacramento.
- Population - 426,000 Median age is 33. Kids under 18 make up 27% of city: over 55 years, 19%.
- Government - The city is governed by a mayor and eight council members elected by districts.
- School district - Served mostly by the Sacramento City Unified School District. For higher education, California
State University at Sacramento (also known as Sacramento State University),as well as Sacramento City College
- Amenities - Something for just about everyone: Annual Jazz Jubilee. Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento, a historical
area of the city which preserves its gold rush era. NBA basketball team, the Sacramento Kings, as well as new WNBA
basketball team. A zoo, rafting on area rivers, swimming, numerous parks, and several golf courses are available.
The arts are represented by opera, ballet, and symphony. Winter skiing is approx. 1-1/2 hours away at Lake Tahoe
and other Sierra mountain venues.
- Homes - Of the 158,856 residential units counted in 2000 by the state, 92,627 were single homes, 10,387 single
attached, 52,458 apartments, 3,384 mobiles.
West Sacramento
- Character - Industrial, but becoming more residential. Many shipping and warehouse firms, as it is the port city
for Sacramento.
- Population - 34,500 Median age of residents is 34. Kids under 18 comprise 30% of town; over 55 years, 21%.
- Government - Own municipal government. Incorporated as city as of 1987.
- School district - Kids attend schools of Washington Unified School District, enrollment 6,300. Demographics are
changing and this should push up school scores. in 1999, voters approved a $17.5 million bond to renovate all
schools but one, an elementary school opened in 1998. Two private schools in town.
- Commute - Great commute to downtown Sacramento; just across the Sacramento River.
- Amenities - Parks, libraries, golf course, racquet-ball club, teen club, river promenade.
- Homes - 12,440 of which 6,755 were single family, 646 single-family attached, 3,501 apartments, 1,538 mobile
homes.
Wilton
- Character - Zoned for farming but development coming. Turkey farm. Sounds and smells of the country. Nudist resort.
In the hills, some large and well-appointed homes.
- Population - 4,551 Median age 42. Kids under 18 comprise 26% of population; over 55 is 20%.
- Government - Unincorporated.
- School district - Elk Grove Unified School District.
- Commute - Approx. 30 minutes to downtown Sacramento via Route 99.
- Amenities - Fishing, picnicking, boating, camping. Site has 160-acre lake of very clear water piped in and the
water remains pure. Park supposedly attracts 100,000 people a year. Recently opened an 18-hole championship golf
course.
- Homes - Many ranchette and horse properties.
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