Sacramento is the county seat of Sacramento County and the state capital of California. It is one of the original counties of the state, being formed in 1850.
The Leland Stanford House — north-front facade. Alternate Title: Stanford-Lathrop Memorial Home; Building/structure dates: 1857 initial construction; subsequent work 1871 and 1959. 800 N Street, Sacramento, Sacramento County, California. Image courtesy of the federal HABSÑHistoric American Buildings Survey of California; photocopy of 1902 photograph in Society of California Pioneers Collection. Accessed October, 2021 via Wikimedia Commons.
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The county is named for the Sacramento River which was in turn named (Santisimo Sacramento — Holy Sacrament) by Spanish cavalry officer Gabriel Moraga. Moraga explored the central valley of California around 1807. In addition Moraga is credited with many of the region's place names including San Joaquin, Merced River, Kings River, Mariposa (butterflies) and Calaveras (human skulls).
HISTORIC SITES