West Sacramento is the home of the Ziggurat, one of the most iconic and unusually designed office buildings in America.
Its odd to think of cities still being created, but West Sacramento is living proof that our country and the cities therein are still developing
West Sacramento is the home of the Ziggurat, one of the most iconic and unusually designed office buildings in America.
Its odd to think of cities still being created, but West Sacramento is living proof that our country and the cities therein are still developing. Forged from three communities, West Sacramento is a young city, only incorporated in 1987. In that short time period West Sacramento has demonstrated serious growth and potential, and has become a thriving part of the Sacramento Metropolitan Area. It draws in residents thanks to its convenience, and it keeps them through providing a solid community.
A mid-sized city sitting in Northern California, back from the coast, West Sacramento isnt that big for a city and doesnt have the beach-vibe draw that most folks associate with California. It is an area that is rooted in, and is still part of, the agricultural industry. Miles and miles of land just to the west are devoted to farming.
While it certainly doesnt have the congestion of some of the coastal cities, West Sacramento also doesnt have the many transportation options available in larger cities. Its walk, drive, or hop on the mildly reliable buses to get around. Amtraks Capitol Corridor line runs in and out of Sacramento, and it's useful for heading west to Oakland or San Francisco. However, it's not really a good commuter option, since youve got to drive into Sacramento to catch it. Yolobus -- no, it doesn't stand for You Only Live Once -- provides a handful of bus routes around the city and across to Sacramento, but they only run along the major routes.
As far as weather goes, summers can get fairly warm, so anyone migrating from the cold-weather climates will need to make sure any potential places for rent have good ventilation and, hopefully, air conditioning. Winters can certainly get chilly, but they rarely get below freezing. The area gets a moderate amount of snow over the course of the year; definitely enough to make a snow shovel a wise investment, but not enough to expect to ever see a blizzard. One thing to be careful of when looking at potential rental properties is that the river will sometimes flood, so try and keep up out of the flood plain or have an apartment on an upper floor.
Residents of West Sacramento are developing their own lifestyle, independent of their capital city neighbors to the east and wine valley neighbors to the west. It is somewhat of a commuter culture, as many folks who work in Sacramento have found West Sacramento to be a great place to live. It is a bit cheaper than Sacramento, and it's actually closer to the downtown area of Sacramento than a number of Sacramento's own neighborhoods. Thanks to it being a short commute, many of these folks will come back to West Sacramento right from work to hit up the great bars and restaurants that have developed in the downtown area.
The best thing about West Sacramento is that the rents are still fairly low, thanks to the city still being in development. This is great, given Californias habit of making everything expensive. You'll pay less for a rental property here than you would for a comparable property elsewhere in the state. On top of the affordability, there is a decent amount of new development and turnover, so in general, you can find a place fairly easily. Certain neighborhoods are targeted by renters more than others, so if youre hoping to find a spot in a specific neighborhood, youll need to start your search a bit earlier than those who are not going to be picky.
**Broderick/Bryte:**Representing two of the three original towns that were incorporated to create West Sacramento, this neighborhood is tucked in the crook of the Sacramento River. This area is made up of mid-century, small to medium houses, with a thorough mix of renters and owners. It is culturally diverse and has some of the best open spaces in West Sacramento, with Tiscornia Park, Bryte Park, and the Riverbend Nature Area all within the neighborhood. $
**Southport:**West Sacramento is a pretty new city, but this neighborhood is even newer than most! Almost all of the houses have been built since 1999, and many of them are owner-occupied. There is a clear differentiation between West Sacramento proper and Southport, especially with the Sacramento River ship channel separating the two. Southport is much more suburban than the other neighborhoods, and it's more difficult to find places to rent here. Its still worth a look, though, as the properties are all new and shiny. $$$$$
**Old West Sacramento:**As the oldest area of town, this neighborhood reflects much of the small-town vibe that made up the town before West Sacramento was incorporated as a city. Mostly owner-occupied, the rare rental properties in this area are usually small two- or three-bedroom houses. Its also almost exclusively residential, but an easy walk to downtown. $$$
**Triangle:**Most of the property rentals in this neighborhood are in apartment buildings, many of them fairly new. This is a fast-growing neighborhood with easy access to Sacramento, as well as the attractive river views. $$$$
**Downtown West Sacramento:**A mix of shopping centers, community centers, apartment buildings, single family homes, and mobile home parks. The downtown area is pleasant, with tree-lined streets and constant activities. Incredibly walkable, its easy to live in this neighborhood and not need to move your car often, as pretty much all of your shopping needs can be walked to. $$
West Sacramento is an active community, which is to be expected with so much pleasant weather throughout the year. The Sacramento River and the various lakes in and around West Sacramento provide plenty of opportunities for fishing and boating, while a number of nature areas, wildlife areas, beaches, and parklands provide plenty of space for hiking, birdwatching, or just lounging around with a book and a coffee. All sorts of playing fields and gyms abound too, as evidenced by the city's track record for producing successful athletes, including world champion boxers. If you'd rather watch than play, you don't have to go far either -- West Sacramento is home to semi-pro baseball and soccer, with an NBA franchise right across the river.
The West Sacramento Community Center provides a central location for a variety of activities for residents young, old, and in between. From the intimate Black Box Theater, where plays are performed and lectures are given year-round, to the Galleria with arts displays from local and worldwide artists, theres plenty of art to be seen. Learning techniques is pretty easy as well, as the Community Center always has programs that can get you started in everything from sculpture to music to theater. It is conveniently located right in the downtown area, so its walkable for a good number of residents.
One of the best things to do in West Sacramento, and what keeps the commuters coming right home from work, is to go out and sample some of the local food and drink. The West Sac neighborhood bar scene is booming, and these aren't your dad's dirty dive bars serving lukewarm American lagers. These are sturdy neighborhood joints serving craft beers and cocktails, welcoming two-martini-happy-hour folks right beside the micro-brew hipsters and Jagerbomb bros. To absorb that alcohol you've got plenty of choices, as West Sacramento has restaurants that reflect its amazingly diverse citizenry. German delis are rubbing elbows with Thai noodle houses. If that's not enough, roving street vendors, food trucks, and a weekly farmers market make sure that there is always some sort of food to be sampled.
