BENICIA — For those that weren’t around to witness Benicia’s rich history, several sites, museums and parks dot the city to keep the lore going.
The city hosts the county’s only state park, offers a historic downtown near the waterfront and has become a haven for artists.
Founded in 1847, the city was the first in the state settled by Anglo-Americans and the first to be incorporated.
It was originally to be called Francisca after Gen. Mariano C. Vallejo’s wife. But when Yerba Buena changed its name to San Francisco it took on her middle name, Benicia. It served as the state’s third capital in 1853 and 1854 until the capital moved to Sacramento.
Some of that history is preserved in the Benicia Fire Museum, the Fischer-Hanlon House and the Benicia Capitol State Park. The state park was threatened to be closed due to budget problems with the state, however it remains open today.
There’s also the Benicia Arsenal, which was built in 1849 as the first ordnance supply depot on the West Coast. Military operations played a significant role until it closed in 1964. The Clock Tower Fortress built in 1859 remains, as do other historic attractions. Much of the arsenal is now an industrial park. Nearly 100 artists live and work in studios at the arsenal.
The city’s industrial park, adjacent to Interstate 680, is the second largest in the county, home to more than 600 business firms and 7,000 workers. It includes the Valero Energy Corp. refinery, Bio-Rad and others.
The primary retail hub is First Street in downtown. Attractions include the waterfront, more than 20 parks and a variety of events, including the Holy Ghost Parade, the Torchlight Parade, Fridays on First, the Benicia Peddler’s Fair and weekly farmers market on Thursday from April to October.
Located on the north shore of the Carquinez Strait between Interstates 80 and 680, Benicia residents enjoy cool breezes and an average temperature of 69 degrees.
As of the 2010 census, the city’s population was 26,997. The racial breakdown of population was: white, 19,568 or 72 percent; Hispanic or Latino, 3,248 or 12 percent; Asian, 2,989 or 11 percent; and black, 1,510 or 0.5 percent. There are 135 American Indians in Benicia. The average median household income is $67,617.
Danny Bernardini can be reached at 427-6935 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dbernardinidr.
City Hall: 250 E. L St. 746-4200
Website: http://www.ci.benicia.ca.us.
City Manager: Brad Kilger, 746-4210, [email protected].
City Council: Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, [email protected] (elected 2011, term expires 2015)
Councilman Tom Campbell, [email protected] (elected 2011, term expires 2015)
Councilman Mark Hughes, [email protected] (elected 2009, term expires 2013)
Councilman Mike Ioakimedes, [email protected] (elected 209, term expires 2013)
Councilman Alan Schwartzman, [email protected] (elected 2009, term expires 2013)
