FAIRFIELD — Solano County keeps on ticking through whatever life throws at it.
Groundwater management, the Delta, regional issues such as transportation and housing and the pressures created by federal and state decisions are all pushing on the 170-year-old county and its seven cities – the oldest of which is Benicia.
The county has a variety of personalities, often split between the coastal cities to the south and the more valley-like persona to the north. It is both a Delta and boasts a healthy expanse of agricultural lands and designed natural open spaces.
Agriculture continues to be an important part of the county, both in terms of the $357.16 million economy it generates, and the historical-cultural connection as the present grips onto its past.
The blooming wine and beer industries, and agriculture tourism are changing the county from a primary farm-centered swath of California to a more tourist-friendly venture.
Solano covers 909.4 square miles, including 84.2 square miles of water area and 675.4 square miles of rural land area. It is also home to Travis Air Force Base.
Solano County had a total population of 429,552 as of the start of 2015, of which 19,348 residents lived outside the seven cities. The population is divided almost evenly by gender, with 50.3% female and 49.7% male.
The largest city continues to be Vallejo with 119,683. It was incorporated in 1868. Following Vallejo are Fairfield (1903) with 111,891 residents; Vacaville (1892) with 94,702; Suisun City (1868) with 28,888; Dixon (1878) with 19,158; and Rio Vista (1893) with 8,193 residents.
The median age is 36.9, according to 2010 census information.
The county’s population, however, is getting older, with 11.9% of residents over the age of 64, according to 2010 census information. That compares to 9.5% in that age group in 2000, 8.2% in 1990, 7.5% in 1980, 6.7% in 1970, 5.9% in 1960 and 4.9% in 1950.
Fairfield is the county seat despite being the youngest of all the cities. Benicia was the county seat until 1858.
The county government has a five-member Board of Supervisors who are elected by district for four-year terms of office.
It passed its first billion-dollar budget in June 2017, and backed that up with a similar fiscal blueprint in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Solano ranks 21st among the 58 counties in the state for population, with a birth rate of 66.1 per 1,000 female residents ages 15 to 44, according to the most recent information. The death rate is 725 per every 100,000 residents.
There are about 1,900 miles of roads and highways, the county reports, of which the county maintains 585.5 miles.
The county also has 92 bridges.
