VACAVILLE — It’s a town with a diverse and growing business community ranging from the life-science companies such as Genentech, Alza and Chiron to regionally known retail stores such as The Factory Stores.
Then there is the affordable housing, quality schools, a wide array of youth activities and numerous community events contribute to making Vacaville a family-oriented city.
With Vacaville’s central location, residents can “day trip” to beaches, the San Francisco Bay area, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa wine country.
However, they need not look further than Vacaville for a wide range of arts and entertainment opportunities, including the Vacaville Performing Arts Theater and celebrations such as Fiesta Days and Merriment on Main.
For those who enjoy the outdoors, there’s hiking or picnicking in Lagoon Valley Park, strolling along the beautiful Creekwalk or participating in sports in any of Vacaville’s parks.
Residents and visitors enjoy an expanding choice of restaurants in the revitalized, historic downtown, and some of the best shopping in the area with a thriving retail district along Interstate 80 that includes one of the largest factory outlet complexes in California.
City Leaders have voiced pride this year that Vacaville has turned the financial corner after nearly a decade of cuts and juggling shortfalls as the result of the 2008 national recession.
The generally low crime and quality of life helped attract new businesses, Amazon chief among those. A number of small but prominent businesses also opened in Vacaville, like Dutch Bros., Rice Barn, Rock ‘n’ Brews and others.
Sprouts supermarket opened its doors a few months ago.
City Manager Jeremy Craig said the city recently completed $15 million in capital improvements projects, many of which were one-time expenditures for projects that were delayed due to the recession.
“These are some things that we just had to put off for a while due to the recession and we’re finally getting around to taking care of many of these things,” the mayor said.
Part of what has helped has been a rebound in property tax levels, Craig said. In displaying a graphic as part of the presentation, Craig showed that 2017 was the first year since 2008 where property tax levels were over what they were prior to the recession.
“Even though the recession is over, we’re just now starting to come out of it,” Craig said.
Vacaville, which was incorporated in 1892, currently comprise just under 27 square miles in a beautiful setting bordered by rolling hillsides, fruit orchards and fertile farmland.
The town enjoys warm summers and mild winters, with an average summer high of 94 degrees and an average winter low of 36 degrees. Annual rainfall averages about 24 inches.
The city’s rich history has seen it transformed from a small agricultural town into a thriving and progressive city; now a diverse population of 97,446 residents, according to the last census.
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.
The city of Vacaville provides high quality recreation programs for all ages, and has continued to invest in state-of-the-art public recreation facilities, including a new community pool with water slides and a diving well, ball fields, and a skateboard park.
Vacaville at a glance
- City Hall: 650 Merchant St.
- Website: www.cityofvacaville.com
- City manager: Jeremy Craig. Reach at 449-5100, [email protected]
- Mayor: Ron Rowlett. Elected in 2018. Term expires in 2022. Reach at [email protected]
- Vice Mayor: Dilenna Harris. Elected in 2008. Term expires in 2020. Reach at [email protected]
- Councilman: Nolan Sullivan. Elected in 2018. Term expires in 2022. Reach at [email protected]
- Councilman: Mitch Mashburn. Elected in 2010. Term expires in 2020. Reach at [email protected]
- Councilman: Raymond Beaty. Appointed in 2018. Term expires in 2020. Reach at [email protected]
