Timeline of Sacramento, California

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Sacramento, California, United States.

19th century

 * 1839 – Sutter's Fort (or “New Helvetia”) established.
 * 1845 – New Helvetia Cemetery established, the first cemetery in the city
 * 1849
 * Sacramento City founded by John Sutter, Jr. and Sam Brannan.
 * William Stout becomes mayor.
 * City Cemetery established.
 * First sale of town lots.
 * 1850
 * August: Squatters' Riot.
 * October–November: Cholera outbreak
 * November: Chevra Kaddisha Cemetery established, the first Jewish cemetery in the state
 * Population: 6,820.
 * Daily California Republican newspaper begins publication.
 * 1852
 * Congregation B'nai Israel synagogue established.
 * Big Four Building constructed.
 * Fire.
 * 1854 – State legislature relocates to Sacramento.
 * Sacramento Turn Verein founded
 * 1855
 * First local steam railway of California opened.
 * November: the first California State Convention of Colored Citizens, a colored convention, was held here.
 * 1856
 * Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park built.
 * December: the second California State Convention of Colored Citizens, a colored convention, held here
 * 1857
 * Daily Bee newspaper begins publication.
 * Sacramento Library Association founded.
 * 1860 – Ground broken for California State Capitol building.
 * 1862 - Flood.
 * 1863 – Central Pacific Railroad building across the Sierras begins.
 * 1865 – California State Convention of Colored Citizens, a colored convention, was held here
 * 1869 – First train from the Atlantic coast reaches Sacramento.
 * 1874 – Capitol building completed.
 * 1877 – Muybridge photographs galloping horse at Union Park Racetrack.
 * 1879 – Sacramento Free Public Library founded.
 * 1889 – Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament built.
 * 1890 – Population: 26,386.
 * 1891 – Brighton School rebuilt.
 * 1898 – Ruhstaller Building constructed.
 * 1900 – Population: 29,282.

20th century
1937 - Sacramento Sheriff's Posse organized. 1942 - Sacramento Horsemen's Association organized.
 * 1909 - Old Sacramento Chinatown closed for railroad
 * 1910 – Population: 44,696.
 * 1912
 * Empress Theatre opens.
 * New Helvetia Cemetery closes for burials
 * 1915 – Zoological park established.
 * 1919 – Business and Professional Women's Club founded.
 * 1923 – Sacramento Municipal Utility District established.
 * 1924
 * Senator Hotel in business.
 * Chevra Kaddisha Cemetery closes
 * Home of Peace Cemetery opens
 * Turn Verein Hall on J street opens
 * 1927
 * Westminster Presbyterian Church built.
 * William Land Park Zoo opens.
 * 1931 – Blue Anchor Building constructed.
 * 1933 – Federal Building constructed.
 * 1935
 * Tower Bridge opens.
 * McClellan Air Force Base established near city.
 * 1937 – Sacramento Movie Forum organized.
 * 1939 – Sacred Heart Parish School constructed.
 * 1941 – Sacramento Army Depot activated.
 * 1947
 * Sacramento Opera Guild founded.
 * Vic's Ice Cream in business.
 * 1948
 * Sacramento Symphony formed.
 * Belle Cooledge elected mayor.
 * 1954 – Sacramento Ballet founded.
 * 1955 – KCRA-TV begins broadcasting.
 * 1956 – Sacramento Youth Symphony founded.
 * 1957 – Arden Fair Mall in business.
 * 1959 - KVIE-TV begins broadcasting.
 * 1960 – Tower Records in business.
 * 1961
 * Sacramento Peace Center established.
 * Sacramento Book Collectors Club active.
 * 1962 – The Sacramento Observer newspaper begins publication.
 * 1966 – From March to April, farmworkers march to Sacramento from Delano.
 * 1968 – Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society formed.
 * 1974 – Sacramento Dixieland Jubilee first held.
 * 1975
 * Phil Isenberg becomes mayor.
 * September 5: Gerald Ford assassination attempt.
 * 1977 – Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission established.
 * 1979
 * November 28: Anti-nuclear sit-in at State Capitol.
 * Local Government Commission headquartered in city.
 * 1982 – California State Capitol building restored.
 * 1983 – Anne Rudin becomes mayor.
 * 1985
 * Sacramento Kings basketball team active.
 * Sacramento History Center established.
 * 1989 – Renaissance Tower built.
 * 1990 – Population: 369,365.
 * 1991
 * April 4: 1991 Sacramento hostage crisis.
 * U.S. Bank Plaza built.
 * 1992 – Wells Fargo Center built.
 * 1993 – Joe Serna, Jr. becomes mayor.
 * 1995
 * City website online.
 * Sacramento Festival of Cinema begins.
 * 1996 – Thistle Dew Dessert Theatre founded.
 * 1997 – Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra established.
 * 1998 – Al-Arqam Islamic School established.
 * 1999 – Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse and Esquire Tower built.
 * 2000
 * Sacramento Film and Music Festival begins.
 * Heather Fargo becomes mayor.

21st century

 * 2008
 * Kevin Johnson becomes mayor.
 * Sacramento Press and Natomas Buzz begin publication.
 * U.S. Bank Tower built.
 * 2009 – Bank of the West Tower built.
 * 2010 – Population: 466,488.
 * 2014 – Golden 1 Center breaks ground as the new home of the Sacramento Kings and opens in 2016.
 * 2016 – Darrell Steinberg becomes mayor.
 * 2022 – A mass shooting occurs in downtown Sacramento, killing six and injuring twelve.