VALLEJO — Vallejo is Solano County’s largest city and the one that most resembles an urban, Bay Area city.
The city of 116,000 people sits along the Mare Island Strait and San Pablo Bay. It boasts such attractions as Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, with its roller coasters and animal shows. It has a number of century-old Victorian and other historic homes.
Educational institutions include Touro University California and the California Maritime Academy.
The Solano County fairgrounds is next to Six Flags and is home to the annual fair. Parts of the property, such as the track area where horse races used to be held, have deteriorated. The county and city have plans to redevelop the property and bring in stores, restaurants and other destinations. They plan to create a creekside park and renovate the area used for the fair.
Travelers between Vallejo and San Francisco can take to the water. The Vallejo ferry makes the trip daily from a terminal along the city’s waterfront. Vallejo recently broke ground on a $28.5 million ferry facility to be built across Mare Island Strait on Mare Island. The new facility is to include maintenance offices and a fueling system and eventually offer ferry service.
Waterways have long shaped Vallejo’s history and culture. They prompted the Navy in 1852 to buy land for Mare Island Naval Shipyard. The first commander was David Glasgow Farragut, who later became famous for his “Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!” utterance during the Civil War.
The shipyard closed in 1996 and Vallejo set about redeveloping Mare Island. The old shipyard hospital building is now part of Touro University. A ship dismantler uses the dry docks. Subdivisions have been built.
Mare Island has become a mixture of new stucco homes, brick buildings dating back to the 19th century and massive, World War II-era industrial buildings. Some of the old buildings are vacant, others are home to businesses.
The city in July launched a search for a developer to redevelop the 150-acre northern section of Mare Island.
Vallejo also has plans to redevelop in its downtown and waterfront. Plans call for more higher-density housing within walking distance of the ferry and stops for the city and regional bus systems, as well as more commercial development.
Mariano Vallejo, a powerful civil and military leader when Mexico ruled California, lends his name to Solano County’s largest city.
Vallejo in 1850 wanted to establish a city that would become the capital of the newly formed state of California. He saw the location as “the true center of the state, the true center of commerce and the true center of travel,” according to Frank Keegan’s book “Solano: The Crossroads County.”
Modestly, Vallejo wanted to name his city “Eureka.” Others insisted it be called “Vallejo” in his honor and their viewpoint won out.
Vallejo – the city, not the man – has taken some hard knocks over the years. The state Legislature met there in 1852 and took only about a week to decide to move elsewhere. The closure of Mare Island Naval Shipyard in 1996 sent the city into a downward spiral. In 2008, Vallejo garnered nationwide publicity by declaring bankruptcy.
But the city has since emerged from bankruptcy and in 2011 passed a ballot measure creating a 1 percent sales tax to help with city finances.
Vallejo is among the county’s most diverse cities. Its population is 32.8 percent white, 24.9 percent Asian, 22.6 percent Hispanic, 22.1 percent black, 0.7 percent American Indian and 11 percent some other race.
Reach Barry Eberling at 427-6929 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/beberlingdr.
Vallejo at a glance
City Hall: 555 Santa Clara St., 648-4527
Website: www.ci.vallejo.ca.us
City Manager: Daniel Keen. Reach at 648-4575, [email protected].
Mayor: Osby Davis. Elected in 2011, term expires in 2017. Reach [email protected].
Councilwoman: Katy Miessner. Elected in 2013, term expires in 2019. Reach at [email protected].
Councilwoman: Pippin Dew-Costa. Elected in 2013, term expires in 2019. Reach at [email protected].
Councilman: Jesus “Jess” Malgapo. Appointed in 2012, term expires in 2019. Reach at [email protected].
Councilman: Bob Sampayan. Elected in 2011, term expires in 2017. Reach at [email protected].
Councilwoman: Rozzana Verder Aliga. Elected in 2013, term expires in 2017. Reach at [email protected].
Councilman: Robert McConnell. Elected in 2011, term expires in 2017. Reach at [email protected].
