YOLO COUNTY
County Offices
625 Court Street
Woodland 530-666-8150
www.yolocounty.org
Chamber of Commerce
917 Seventh Street
Sacramento 916-552-6800
www.metrochamber.org
Bounded by the Sacramento River on the East and Putah Creek on the South, Yolo County is a scenic expanse of land that offers vistas of the Little Blue Ridge and Vaca Mountain Ranges. Visitors from the Midwest are usually amazed at their first glimpse of Yolo County. They arrive in the Golden State expecting to see some replica of California icons like Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Malibu, or cable cars. Instead, they find something that looks like home. Yolo County is a panoramic, agricultural region filled with patchwork fields where crops like alfalfa, tomatoes, rice, and corn are flourishing.
Many who are familiar with Central California consider Yolo County to be the very heart of this beautiful region. Others would argue that the presence of the University of California-Davis qualifies it as the “brains.” In fact, the UC Davis Medical Center is located in the city of Sacramento, serving as the primary education site for the University’s School of Medicine as well as a regional center of excellence and leading tertiary care referral center for 33 counties.
Considering the collaboration of scientific, medical and agricultural genius in Davis, it is fortunate that Yolo County enjoys a prime location bordering the State Capital of Sacramento. Davis has a long-standing reputation for protecting the economic and agricultural interests of Central California. The area’s rich rural background combines with the highly acclaimed researchers at UC Davis, elevating Davis and Yolo County to a position of environmental authority within California, within the nation, and even the world.
Most of the county’s residents—nearly 85 percent—live in the cities of Davis, Woodland, Winters, and West Sacramento. Each one of these communities offers a distinctive lifestyle and unique residential atmosphere. Economically and culturally, “West Sac” is more closely aligned with the City of Sacramento in spite of its physical location in Yolo County. The county seat of Woodland and Winters are small but attractive towns with undeniable rural charm. Davis is an environmentally conscious community where recycling, farmer’s markets, food coops, and solar energy abound. With nearly as many registered bicycles as residents, Davis has been dubbed the “Bicycle Capital of the World.”
Services
Nearly 80 percent of Yolo County is devoted to the hundreds of farms scattered throughout the region, producing more than $300 million annually in cash crops from hay and alfalfa to corn and melons. Exceptionally productive soils combine with an advantageous growing climate and divergence in terrain to support a variety of crops. The growing wine industry and its associated light tourism are opportunities that county planners are working to expand.
In Davis, the largest employer by far is the University of California-Davis, where thousands of staff members and employees orchestrate the activities of an institution ranked by News & World Report among the nation’s top public universities. In addition to claiming some of the region’s finest public school systems, Yolo County is also home to convenient satellite campuses for the two-year institutions of Sacramento City College and Woodland Community College.
Other major employers in the Davis area include the public school district, city government, public utilities, and the Sutter Davis Hospital. Many firms engaged in enzyme, genetic, aerodynamic, or conservation research join companies like lumber suppliers, tomato processors, and robotics manufacturers. The distribution centers for the county are centered in West Sacramento, where leading shipping and warehouses can take advantage of a location near the port city for the entire Sacramento Valley. In addition to the Sacramento Deep Water Channel, the county enjoys an excellent transportation system that includes three interstate highways, a major metropolitan airport, and several small regional airports.
The UC Davis Health System reaches far beyond the renowned UC Davis Medical Center in nearby Sacramento to encompass a network of primary care physicians practicing in 17 Northern California communities. Closer to home, the Sutter Davis Hospital combines the personalized care associated with a small hospital with state-of-art medical and surgical specialties. Woodland is home to an expansive acute-care institution, Woodland Memorial Hospital.
Lifestyle
In many respects, the town of Davis is the focal point of culture, education, business, recreation, and healthcare for Yolo County. Mirroring the city of Sacramento’s impressive “art in public places” campaign, Davis boasts more than 50 exhibits of public art in addition to the collections found in local and campus galleries.
For the sports-minded, collegiate competition is available in a number of sports for both men’s and women’s teams. Davis also offers an abundance of lush and spacious parks. Residents enjoy amenities like the frequent oasis of a mini-park, sweeping greenbelts, swimming complexes, tennis courts, a country club, public and private golf courses, athletic fields, a senior’s complex, a teen center, a skating rink, and a plethora of activities for the kids. Residents are able to take advantage of the university’s exceptional athletic facilities on many occasions.
In spite of its agricultural nature and small-town ambiance, Yolo County provides a level of cultural sophistication that rivals many cosmopolitan environments. West Sacramento is the home of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society, while the restored Woodland Opera House offers year-long drama and comedy in elegant surroundings. For a more contemporary but equally impressive venue, visit the Davis Art Center with 10,000 square feet of performance space and outstanding exhibition gallery. Also in Davis, Freeborn Hall is regarded as one of the Valley’s finest venues for everything from trade shows to comedies. University organizations join local groups like the Davis Musical Theatre Company to fill the calendar with theatrical productions, musicals, dance recitals, concerts, lectures, and special events.
While the city of Sacramento has the edge on sprawling shopping malls, Yolo County residents can look forward to some of the region’s most attractive and intimate commercial districts. Woodland’s Main Street has undergone a sweeping revitalization to create a pleasing atmosphere for its pleasing blend of shops, stores, services, and restaurants. Retail and commercial activity in Winters is expanding with the population, while Davis features a captivating downtown district where renovated buildings along shaded streets offer an eclectic mix of quaint shops and boutiques, sidewalk cafes, galleries, bookstores, bakeries, movie theaters, and quality restaurants.
Housing options in Yolo County include ranchettes and rambling farmhouses as well as the most elite of suburban addresses. West Sacramento mixes neighborhoods with houses constructed in the ‘50s and ‘60s with newer tracts of homes near the Jefferson Boulevard corridor. Woodland and Winters are smaller, less highly developed towns that feature white-fenced bungalows as well as newer housing developments. The median home prices here remain slightly lower than those in Davis, although handsome developments like Sycamore Ranch and Steeplechase provide luxurious options.
Davis largely reflects a modern suburban appearance, where well-kept homes built within the last 30 years mix with vibrant new subdivisions. Near the university, handsome older homes showcase captivating character and architectural diversity, creating an attractive enclave graced by lush lawns and mature shade trees. Both Winters and Woodland offer quiet neighborhoods with a pleasing mix of homes that span 100 years, reflecting age and upkeep in their prices.
“Rapid growth” is a phrase that can be applied to any community in Yolo County. The county seat of Woodland experienced phenomenal growth in the last two decades of the 20th century. Winters is poised to follow the same trend, drawing regional attention as an idyllic place to live and raise a family. Rich in undeveloped land, both towns can offer the escape of sprawling home sites, horse properties, and a real “country feeling.” Lovely Victorians and Queen Annes can be found in Woodland, where some sections of the town could easily be mistaken for a snapshot taken in the Midwest or even New England. Around the periphery of these towns are booming subdivisions that feature modern construction in a variety of styles and price ranges—with many more to follow.
Enhanced by the superb resources of UC Davis, Yolo County synthesizes many of the diverse elements that young professionals and families are seeking. In addition to cultural, educational and recreational amenities of regional importance, residents are able to enjoy the intimate neighborhoods, quiet streets, friendly businesses and community spirit that characterize rural America. From its “amber waves of grain” to the gleaming glass and chrome of its internationally acclaimed research facilities, Yolo County harmonizes tranquility with vitality for an unparalleled quality of life.
Davis
Municipal Offices
530-757-5602
http://cityofdavis.org
Chamber of Commerce
530-756-5160
www.davischamber.com
Home to the prestigious University of California-Davis, the town of Davis is distinguished by its dedication to the environmental awareness movement. Proud of enforcing some of the toughest “no smoking” regulations in the nation, Davis is also known for the widespread use of bicycles over cars. Residents and university students are more likely to be seen pedaling to their destination than driving. The Davis Farmers Market meets bi-weekly, and the Davis Food Co-op has been providing organic food and household items to the community for more than two decades. Solar-energized homes are very common, along with research firms that explore the reduction of energy consumption in every aspect of life. Community gardens, biodynamic farms, and cooperatives are all a part of Davis life. An active cultural community, excellent public schools, and attractive neighborhoods contribute to the town’s reputation as a progressive, comfortable and friendly place to call home. In addition to parks and recreational facilities, nearby attractions that celebrate the wonder of nature include the California Raptor Center, Putah Creek Parkway, Yolo Basin Wildlife Area, Sierra Nevada Mountains, UC Davis Arboretum, and Willow Slough Bypass Wetlands.
Dixon
Municipal Offices
707-678-7000
www.ci.dixon.ca.us
Chamber of Commerce
707-678-2650
www.dixonchamber.org
Typical of the many small towns that developed throughout the Sacramento Valley during the Gold Rush era, Dixon is located just 20 miles from metropolitan Sacramento. Proud of its small-town flavor and friendly atmosphere, Dixon is nevertheless poised to accommodate the influx of industrial and commercial development that will inevitably follow residential growth. Newcomers to Yolo County as well as those who are seeking an escape from the stress of urban life often find in Dixon the right combination of real estate values and pure serenity. Within the heart of this peaceful farming community, older homes reflect the charm and rustic beauty of its rural legacy. Also available in Dixon are spacious “country” lots or newer construction in blossoming subdivisions. Growing in population and popularity, Dixon is poised to join the ranks of West Sacramento, Woodland, Winters, and Davis one of Yolo County’s leading residential choices.
West Sacramento
Municipal Offices
916-617-4500
http://cityofwestsacramento.org
Chamber of Commerce
916-371-7042
www.westsacramentochamber.com
Often seen as one of the region’s rising stars, the relatively recently incorporated city of West Sacramento is attracting a steady influx of new business and industry. Corporations that have moved into its business centers and industrial parks include key operations for some large corporate giants. Linked to Sacramento by four bridges, West Sacramento is home to the Port of Sacramento, which serves as a major transportation hub for the entire Sacramento Valley. Housing developments range from older homes in well-established neighborhoods to new developments and luxurious ranchettes with generous acreage. Just across the river from the Capital City, West Sacramento appears on every expert’s list as one of the nation’s fastest-growing and most livable cities. Land is readily available for expansion of residential and business concerns, and average home prices are less than half of those found in the nearby San Francisco metropolitan areas. Probably the strongest single attraction to West Sacramento, however, is the balance between small-town spirit and easy access to Sacramento’s cultural and educational amenities.
Winters
Municipal Offices
530-795-4910
www.cityofwinters.org
Chamber of Commerce
530-795-2329
www.winterschamber.com
Winters has claimed its place as one of Yolo County’s major residential communities. Attractive to newcomers and commuters alike, this lovely small town is developing its own commercial district to meet the demands for goods and services close to home. Like Woodland, it features an Opera House in the heart of the historic downtown district. Restoration began in 1993, although the venue has continuously served as the focal point for community life since its grand opening in 1875. Served by Interstate 505 and connections to Interstate 80, Winters’ residents enjoy access to the exceptional amenities in Davis and the City of Sacramento. Nearby recreational opportunities are focused around beautiful Lake Berryessa, one of the state’s largest freshwater lakes. More than 160 miles of shoreline invite fishing, swimming, rowing, sailing, boating, water-skiing, and other water sports.
Woodland
Municipal Offices
530-661-5850
www.cityofwoodland.org
Chamber of Commerce
530-662-7327
www.woodlandchamber.org
Clean, attractive and charming, Woodland is distinguished as the county seat and one of the area’s fastest growing communities in both residential and manufacturing/distribution sectors. The housing options in Woodland reflect its history as a farm town that has evolved over the decades into a vibrant bedroom community. The abundance of large old trees throughout the town ensure cooling summer breezes and spectacular autumn foliage. Closed for decades, the architecturally magnificent Woodland Opera House serves as a regional delight, hosting a variety of performing arts and special events throughout the year. Housing options are diverse, ranging from modest homes in friendly neighborhoods to luxury models in master-planned subdivisions. Even the older homes in Woodland tend to be freshly painted and meticulously landscaped. Lovely turn-of-the-century homes in Victorian and Queen Anne architectural styles complement the revitalized downtown district with its cafes and unique shops. Woodland Memorial Hospital on the west side of town provides healthcare convenience, while some light industry is flourishing in the eastern quadrant. In addition to local recreation, boating and water sports are just minutes away on the Sacramento River.
