Vallejo, California
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Vallejo (pronounced /vəˈleɪhoʊ/ in English; [baˈjeho] in the original Spanish) is a city in Solano County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 116,760. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northern shore of San Pablo Bay. Vallejo is home to the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom theme park (formerly Marine World and Marine World Africa USA) ; the now-defunct Mare Island Naval Shipyard; the California Maritime Academy (part of the California State University system); the Vallejo Center campus of Solano Community College; and Touro University, an osteopathic medical college. Ferry service runs from a terminal on Mare Island Strait to San Francisco, through Vallejo Transit's BayLink division. Vallejo has twice served as the capital of the State of California: once in 1852 and again in 1853, both periods being quite brief.[1] Some of the first Europeans drawn to the Vallejo area were attracted by the sulfur springs; in fact, in the year 1902 the area was named Blue Rock Springs.
Geography and environmentVallejo is located at (38.112969, -122.235882)[2]. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 126.3 km² (48.8 mi²). 78.2 km² (30.2 mi²) of it is land and 48.1 km² (18.6 mi²) of it (38.07%) is water. The Napa River flows through the city of Vallejo on its journey to the San Pablo Bay. Vallejo is accessible by Interstate 80 between San Francisco and Sacramento. It is the location for the northern half of the Carquinez Bridge. It is also part of the North Bay region of the Bay Area in Central California. It is also accessible by Interstate 780 from neighboring Benicia to the east, and by Route 37 from Sonoma to the west. Route 29 (former U.S. Route 40) begins in the city near the Carquinez Bridge and travels north through the heart of the city and past into Napa County, entering neighboring American Canyon and eventually Napa. Several faults have been mapped in the vicinity of Vallejo. The San Andreas Fault and Hayward Faults are the most active faults, even though the San Andreas is at some distance. Locally, the Sulphur Springs Valley Thrust Fault and Southhampton Fault are found. No quaternary seismic activity along these minor faults has been observed with the possible exception of a slight offset revealed by trenching. The Sulphur Mountain and Green Valley faults have been associated with the Concord Fault to the south. The Concord Fault is considered active. Historically there have been local cinnabar mines in the Vallejo area.[9] The Hastings Mine and St. John's Mine contribute ongoing water contamination for mercury; furthermore, mine shaft development has depleted much of this area's spring water. Both Rindler Creek and Blue Rocks Spring Creek have been affected. There are a variety of flora and fauna in the Vallejo area. The Suisun Shrew, Sorex ornatus sinuosus, a mammal found only in salt marshes, has local habitat. Also according to city's 1989 Environmental Assessment, the Tiburon Indian paintbrush, (Castilleja neglecta) is found in the Vallejo area. DemographicsAs of the census[3] of 2005, there were 125,900 people, 39,601 households, and 28,235 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,495.3/km² (3,868.9/mi²). There were 41,219 housing units at an average density of 527.2/km² (1,365.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 30.97% White, 30.69% African American, 0.66% Native American, 19.16% Asian, 1.09% Pacific Islander, 7.88% from other races, and 6.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.92% of the population. Vallejo has the third highest percentage of Filipino Americans in the United States mainland, behind the nearby cities of Daly City and Hercules. There were 39,601 households out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.43. In the city the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males. The median income for a household in the city was $47,030, and the median income for a family was $53,805. Males had a median income of $40,132 versus $32,129 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,415. About 7.7% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over. PoliticsIn the state legislature Vallejo is located in the 2nd Senate District, represented by Democrat Pat Wiggins, and in the 7th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Noreen Evans. Federally, Vallejo is located in California's 7th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +19[11] and is represented by Democrat George Miller. HistoryVallejo was once home of the Coastal Miwok as well as Suisunes and other Patwin Native American tribes. The Columbus Parkway EIR documents three confirmed Native American sites located in the rock outcrops in the hills above Blue Rock Springs Park. The California Archaeological Inventory has indicated that the three Indian sites are located on Sulphur Springs Mountain. Image:Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo.jpg
Mariano Vallejo, ca. 1880-85, founder and city namesake
The city of Vallejo was once part of a 66,000-acre (267 km²) Mexican land grant of 1844 by Governor Pío Pico to General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo called the Rancho Soscol. The city was named for this original Mexican military officer and title holder, he helped to settle and oversee the north bay region. General Vallejo wanted the site named Eureka, but the other citizens of the area wanted to name the new city after the General. Neighboring Benicia is named after Vallejo's wife, Francisca Benicia Carrillo. General Vallejo was responsible for military peace in the region until 1846, first under Spanish then Mexican rule, until independently-minded Californians rose up against the Mexican government of California in 1846 in the Bear Flag Revolt, and the annexation of California to the United States. General Vallejo, though a Mexican and Mexican army officer, generally acquiesced in the annexation of California to the United States, recognizing the greater resources of the United States and benefits that would bring to his beloved California. He was a proponenent of reconciliation and statehood after the Bear Flag Revolt, and has a U.S. Navy submarine, the USS Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN 658), named after him. In 1850, Vallejo proposed plans for a new city, to be called Eureka, with the capitol, university, botanical garden and other features. After a state wide referendum, his proposal was accepted, although a new name was decided upon: Vallejo. In 1851, a commission appointed by the Senate found a site on a hill that overlooked the bay and could see San Francisco on a clear day, and it was approved for its symbolic strategic value. In 1851, Vallejo was the official state capitol, with the government prepared to meet for the first time the following year. In 1852, the legislature convened for the first time. Unfortunately, Vallejo didn't follow through with building a capitol for them to meet in. After being forced to meet in a leaky building, sitting on barrels, they motioned to move sessions to Sacramento, and served there for the remainder of the session after only 11 days. In 1853, it was again the meeting place for the legislature, solely for the purpose of moving the capitol officially to Benicia, which occurred on February 4, 1853, after only a month. After legislature left, the government established a naval shipyard on Mare Island, which helped the town overcome the loss. The yard functioned for over a hundred years, finally closing in 1996.[12] In the early 1900s, Vallejo was home to a Class D minor-league baseball team, referred to in local newspapers sometimes as the "Giants" and other times simply as "The Vallejos." Pacific Coast League star and future Chicago White Sox center fielder Ping Bodie played for Vallejo during the 1908 season, in which the team reached the California state title game. The team was disbanded in the early 1920s. Downtown Vallejo retains many of its historic Victorian and craftsman homes. November 2007 Mayoral ElectionThe mayor was former city council member Anthony Intintoli; as of December 2007, the current mayor is now Osby Davis. The mayoral race had Davis and Gary Cloutier tied on election day. Cloutier won the race initially. But the results of a recount declared Davis the winner instead, two days after Cloutier was already sworn in. Cloutier is currently appealing the results of the recount. The two candidates were firsts for Vallejo: Davis is the first African-American mayor elected in Vallejo; Cloutier would've been the first openly-gay mayor. Brink Of BankruptcyOn 20 February 2008, KRON, KPIX, KNTV, and the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Vallejo is on the brink of becoming the first California city in history to declare bankruptcy. Vallejo city council member Stephanie Gomes, interviewed on camera, said the Vallejo police and fire department payroll consumes 80 percent of the city budget, meaning the city could be bankrupt as early as March or April. The city council is negotiating with the police and firefighters unions to avoid this outcome.[13] Stephanie Gomes, Vallejo City Councilwoman largely blames exorbitant salaries and benefits for Vallejo firefighters and police officers. Reportedly, salaries and benefits for public safety workers account for 80 percent of Vallejo's general operating budget. 98 firefighters made more than $100,000 and 10 made more than $200,000 including overtime. [14] Two contributing factors have also been cited: the aforementioned high salaries, and current and future pension outlays, payments of which are likely not sustainable if bankruptcy is to be avoided. [15] SchoolsPublic schoolsPublic schools in Vallejo are under the Vallejo City Unified School District. Private and parochial schools
Alternative schools
Secondary education
Community Centers and Swimming Pools
Other places of interestGolf Courses
Museums and Attractions
Sailing and Boating
Local Events
Neighborhoods
The newest neighborhoods of Vallejo are located in the northeast section of the city, east of Interstate 80 and include the Northgate neighborhood around Costco and the high end Hiddenbrooke with its own golf course in the mountains between Vallejo and Fairfield. East Vallejo is the largest, most populated, and contains the newest neighborhoods of the city, undergoing considerable growth since the late 1940s. East Vallejo begins on the east side of Interstate 80 and includes the "manor neighorhoods" such as Tennessee and Steffan Manor, Silverview, Skyview Terrace, Granada Hills, Greenmont, Somerset Highlands (the most easternly part of Georgia Street, as well as parts of Columbus Parkway and Ascot Parkway), and the majority of Glen Cove. Glen Cove is a neighborhood located close to where Interstates 80 and 780 meet, close to Benicia. It boasts views of the Carquinez Strait and Carquinez Bridge. Most of the home construction in this area was completed in the 1980's. It has some of the most expensive housing in the city. The Crest is a neighborhood located north of Highway 37 in north Vallejo. The crest is famously known for local rap artists Mac Dre and Mac Mall as it is mentioned frequently in both of their lyrics. The Woods are all the streets in east Vallejo with the word in them ie: redwood, rollingwood, oakwood, located on the south east side of the city between I-80 and the east most city limits Rancho Vallejo is a neighborhood located on the northwest side of the city near American Canyon. South Vallejo is located south of York and Marine streets, and is sometimes known as the "Hillside", the "Su side", or "Beverly Hills". South Vallejo is famous for being the birthplace of the famous Vallejo rap group The Click, as well as B-Legit's record label Sic-Wid-It records. This is one of the most crime ridden areas in the city. The downtown and waterfront areas near Mare Island are currently undergoing extensive transformation and development as many people from San Francisco move to the Victorian homes downtown. West Vallejo stretches from Sonoma Blvd. to Mare Island and the Vallejo waterfront. The majority of streets in west Vallejo are either named after U.S States, or California counties and cities. One of the most historic landmarks located in west Vallejo, is Nation's giant burgers located on the corner of Tennessee St. and Sonoma Blvd. Vallejo has two historic neighborhoods:
Hyphy MusicThe Hyphy music scene has some of its roots in Vallejo as well as Oakland and Richmond. Major contributors to the development and popularity of the music are from Vallejo such as Mac Dre and E-40. A sub-scene of Hyphy is the Thizz movement created exclusively by Mac Dre, using the term that is used to refer to taking the drug, ecstasy. Zodiac KillerThe Zodiac Killer was a serial killer who was active in Northern California during the 1960s. He claimed to have killed 37, but only 7 victims were confirmed, two of which survived. Two of his victims, Michael Renault Mageau, 19, and Darlene Elizabeth Ferrin, 22, were attacked within the city limits of Vallejo at the Blue Rocks Springs Golf Course parking lot. Mageau survived the attack, while Ferrin was DOA at Kaiser Foundation Hospital. His first confirmed victims, David Arthur Faraday, 17, and Betty Lou Jensen, 16, were killed on Lake Herman Road which goes through both Vallejo and Benicia, however, the victims were just inside the city limits of Benicia. The Zodiac Killer sent letters and cryptograms to the Vallejo Times Herald, San Francisco Chronicle, and San Francisco Examiner after his murders. These letters described parts of the scenes only he would know and also hinted at his identity, future murders, and threats to others such as school children and Halloween trick-or-treaters. Both the Vallejo Police Department and San Francisco Police Department investigated the murders but were never able to solve the case. The case was marked inactive in April 2004 but was reopened before March 2007. The case also remains open in additional jurisdictions. Famous People from VallejoCelebrities
Music artists
Athletes
Television
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