SUTTER-YUBA COUNTIES
Sutter County Offices
146 Garden Highway
Yuba City 530-822-7473
www.suttercounty.org
Yuba County Offices
915 Eighth Street
Marysville 530-749-7575
www.co.yuba.ca.us
Chamber of Commerce
429 10th Street
Marysville 530-743-6501
www.yubasutterchamber.com
Unlike the Bay area or Southern California where one town folds seamlessly into the next, the central region of California is characterized by open spaces, farm fields, flowing rivers, and distant mountain ranges. Here, the relaxed pace of small-town living and affordable housing options form a sharp contrast with metropolitan stress levels, heavy traffic, and climbing real estate prices. It is within this rural paradise that Sutter and Yuba Counties are situated, approximately an hour’s drive north of Sacramento.
Sutter County is an agricultural expanse of land situated between the Sacramento and Feather Rivers, celebrated for developing the seedless grape that revolutionized the raisin industry. An area with a history of agricultural successes and breakthroughs, Sutter was also credited with the creation of a hardy, prolific strain of wheat as long ago as 1868. Just a few years later, the innovation of a canning cling peach ensured Sutter County’s status as the “Peach Bowl of the World” for the coming century.
The southern quadrant of Sutter County borders Sacramento, Yolo and Placer Counties—a location that places residents within an hour’s commute from three state universities, a major metropolitan airport, the State Capitol, world-class cultural centers, and the premier recreational areas available in and around the Sierra Nevada mountains. Neighboring Yuba County enjoys an equally advantageous location. The two counties are closely aligned, often collaborating on projects or jointly sponsoring major events. Yuba and Sutter Counties refer to their county seats—Marysville and Yuba City, respectively—as “twin cities.”
Separated only by the Feather River, the close proximity of these leading cities has contributed to the attitude of unity between the counties. Emerging simultaneously as Gold Rush era settlements, the communities have a long history of sharing their unique resources. Marysville residents benefit from the expansive shopping opportunities in Yuba City. Conversely, those living in Yuba City can enjoy the seasonal celebrations and recreational delights of Ellis Lake, the crowning jewel of Marysville attractions.
Services
The local economy is dominated by agricultural activity than ranges from wine production to such crops as rice, walnuts, almonds, melons, alfalfa, hay, plums, peaches, pears, kiwis, and tomatoes. The availability of water combines with a long growing season to make Sutter County ideal for agriculture. With more than 90 percent of the land classified as “important farmland,” Sutter is one of the most intensively cultivated counties in California.
While the Yuba-Sutter region is recognized as an integral part of California’s rice bowl, vineyards and wine-producers also dot the landscape. Premium grapes thrive in the Mediterranean climate provided by Yuba County foothills. The crown jewel of the area’s wineries is undoubtedly the Renaissance Vineyard and Winery in northern Yuba County—one of the largest mountain vineyards on the entire continent. Industries based on lumber and wood products as well as food processing strengthen the local economy through diversification. Also centered in Yuba City is a growing element of light manufacturing activity and retail expansion spurred by the Mall in Yuba City. Government plays a significant role in the region with Beale Air Force Base located just a few minutes drive east of Marysville.
Public school districts provide an excellent education for area youth, encouraging parental involvement and emphasizing personalized attention by maintaining favorable pupil/teacher ratios. Yuba College on the outskirts of Marysville serves as a local center for higher education, offering associate’s degrees, certifications, vocational, and career training programs. Sutter-Yuba residents are not only within commuting distance to the two major universities in Greater Sacramento, they are minutes from the University of California-Chico.
Lifestyle
Located 45 miles north of Sacramento at the crossroads of Highway 99 and Highway 20, the Yuba-Sutter region has been called the “undiscovered California.” Magnificent untapped and underdeveloped resources combine with the rich sense of history hidden in museums, temples and churches built by settlers in the mid-1880s. Marysville was named for Mary Covillaud, a survivor of the Donner Party who later married one of the city’s founders. In the city of Live Oak stands a Valley Oak tree, identified as one of 35 Bicentennial Living Witness Trees nationwide that were standing when the U.S. Constitution was signed. Sutter County Courthouse is a Classical Revival structure circa 1899, while graceful Victorians date back to the 1870s. Around each corner, a landmark or historical site holds a secret from the past.
Many of the colorful festivals of this region are based on major historical events. Each spring, residents celebrate the Chinese Bok Kai Festival, announced by brilliant wind chimes. Visitors arrive from across the nation and as far away as Taiwan to participate in this dazzling display of tradition. Although Marysville’s original Bok Kai Temple was destroyed by fire, the 1880 replacement serves as the focal point of the local Chinese community. Western lore is the theme of the Twin City Slicker’s Cattle Drive and the Marysville Stampede each May, followed in the summertime by the Independence Day extravaganza known as the Greater American Celebration and Speedboat Regatta. Highlights include hydroplane boat races and a spectacular fireworks display reflected over the placid waters of Ellis Lake. August brings the Air Expo with displays of military, vintage and experimental aircraft.
As the autumn leaves transform the area into a showcase of brilliant colors, the region honors mountain man and entrepreneur James Pierce Beckwourth. Held in Early October, Beckwourth Frontier Days pays tribute to the former Virginia slave who discovered a gentle pass across the Sierra Nevada. He eventually built a ranch and trading post and guided wagon trains along the path that became the Beckwourth Trail. Beckwourth Riverfront Park is also popular recreation site, hosting concerts and special events in the large amphitheater. Ellis Lake is another favorite spot in Marysville with lovely areas for picnics and leisurely walks or fishing and paddle boating.
Outdoor enthusiasts will discover a wealth of recreational opportunities in the region’s communities and countryside. Opportunities include fishing, hunting, boating, golfing, and tennis. Some of California’s most popular havens for pheasant, duck and goose hunting are located in Yuba-Sutter. The Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a sportsman’s and naturalist’s delight, offering 84,000 acres that contains one of the most intensively developed waterfowl marshlands on the North American continent. Anglers can test their skills as they fish for trout, steelhead, salmon, sturgeon, shad, and striped bass in the Feather, Yuba, or Sacramento rivers.
River bottom trails and country backroads are ideal for horseback riding, while the deep pools of the Yuba River and the base of Beale Falls beckon adventurous swimmers and divers. Organized hikes into the Sutter Buttes, famous as the world’s smallest mountain range, are equally popular with locals and visitors. The range covers about 75 square miles in a circular formation about 10 miles in diameter. These unusual and scenic mountains reach a peak of 2,117 feet at South Butte.
The majority of available housing in Yuba-Sutter is focused in the twin cities of Marysville and Yuba City, although small residential havens such as Live Oak add to the possibilities. Home to less than 5,000 residents, Live Oak offers the warmth, friendliness, and slower pace of a rural village surrounded by open space and fertile countryside. Throughout Yuba-Sutter, the housing options vary between well-kept older homes shaded by large old trees and newer developments. However, even the most luxurious homes tend to compare favorably in price to similar models available in any other part of the Sacramento Valley.
Rich farmland, sparkling waterways, the majestic Sutter Buttes, and premier recreational amenities add to the desirability of Yuba and Sutter counties. Newcomers are impressed with the clean, quiet, agricultural towns and open spaces. As metropolitan areas continue to grow, the migration of business and commerce into undeveloped suburbs will be transforming sleepy rural villages into beautiful bedroom communities. Anchored by the strength of its twin cities, the Yuba-Sutter area is well-positioned to grow and prosper in the shift from urban to country and semi-rural living.
Yuba City
Municipal Offices
530-822-4609
www.yubacity.net
Chamber of Commerce
530-743-6501
www.yubasutterchamber.com
Sutter County’s Yuba City is emerging as a regional retail and business center. In fact, Yuba City is the namesake for the Yuba City Metropolitan Statistical Area, designating the area as a regional center of commerce for a rapidly growing population base that is nearing 140,000 residents. Agriculture, food processing, lumber and wood products, Beale Air Force Base, and retail activity all underline the local economy. Yuba City is just 40 miles north of Sacramento, developing over the decades as a pleasant residential community that serves as a hub for the agricultural area that surrounds it. Yuba City Mall features popular department stores along with a host of specialty shops and services. The city manages more than 100 acres of parkland and recreational facilities that include a senior center, lighted tennis courts, and athletic courts and fields. In spite of a growing sophistication, the city has preserved its small-town atmosphere and country feeling. Nearby parks, wildlife preserves, mountains, lakes, and rivers provide endless opportunities for outdoor enjoyment.
Marysville
Municipal Offices
530-749-3901
www.marysville.ca.us
Chamber of Commerce
530-743-6501
www.yubasutterchamber.com
Commercial, agricultural, recreational, educational, and industrial activities for the Yuba-Sutter area center around Marysville, earning the community the nickname of “Hub City.” Yuba City’s “twin city” and the county seat of Yuba County, Marysville is situated on the east bank of the Feather River where the Yuba and Feather Rivers meet. Because of its natural boundaries, Marysville has little potential for growth. Nevertheless, neighboring Yuba City invites newcomers to enjoy the expanding amenities just across the river—from major shopping malls to employment opportunities in a growing sector of light manufacturing firms. Serving as a residential community for Beale Air Force Base, Marysville offers a pleasing selection of beautiful older homes along tree-lined streets and newer construction. Ellis Lake is the crowned jewel of the community, an example of local initiative and pride. The lake was nothing more than a dismal swamp until 1924 when the Women’s Improvement Club commissioned Robbie McLaren to transform the unsightly bog into a lovely lake. If the name “McLaren” is not immediately familiar, his professional credits include the design of the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
