Sacramento Neighborhood Histories

Researching the history of a Sacramento neighborhood often involves the use of several sources. Many of these sources are located in the Sacramento Room.

Books

The following books contain historical information on Sacramento's neighborhoods. Other books may be found by searching the library's Online Catalog using keywords such as "Sacramento" and "neighborhoods," or using the name of the neighborhood you are researching. The letters SPE in front of the call number indicate that the book is located in the Sacramento Room, and is available for use in the library only. In some instances, circulating copies of these titles are also available.

• Avella, Steven; Sacramento : indomitable city
  SPE 979.454 A949 2003 SAC
  SPE 979.454 A949 2003 SAA
• Crawford, Bruce; Isleton
  SPE 979.453 C899 2003 SAC
• Flynn, Dan; Inside guide to Sacramento : the hidden gold of California's capital
  SPE 979.454 F648 SAC
• Gregory, Carol Ann; Sacramento's Greenhaven/Pocket area
  SPE 979.454 G822s 2001 SAC
• Murphy, Dan; History of the Curtis Park Neighborhood
  SPE 979.454 M978 2003 SAC
• Oak Park business district
  SPE f979.454 O11 1961 SAC
• O'Brien, Dean; North Highlands history
  979.453 O132n 2001

Card Index File

This file, located in the Sacramento Room, indexes books, magazines and newspapers, including some articles in the Sacramento Bee. It specifically focuses on topics relating to Sacramento and California history. Search the file using the name of the neighborhood you are researching.

Pamphlet
File

The Sacramento Room Pamphlet File contains newspaper and magazine articles, photographs, and other pieces of information relating to Sacramento and California history. Ask the Sacramento Room staff to see the file for the neighborhood you are researching.

Journals & Magazines

Information on Sacramento neighborhoods may also be found in Sacramento Room periodicals such as Golden Notes, Sacramento Magazine, Sacramento History : Journal of the Sacramento County Historical Society.

There is a separate index for the Golden Notes series, which is available in the Sacramento Room.

Maps

Historical maps of the Sacramento area, available in the Sacramento Room, give information on the composition of neighborhoods in earlier years. An index to these maps is also available in the Sacramento Room.

Newspapers

Local newspapers frequently contain articles about the history of a neighborhood. Back issues of newspapers such as the Suttertown News are available in the Sacramento Room. These newspapers are indexed in the Card Index File in the Sacramento Room.

Back issues of the Sacramento Bee (1857-current) and the Sacramento Union (1851-54, 1856-Jan. 15, 1994) are available on the 3rd floor at the Periodicals Desk, Central Library. A card index for the Sacramento Bee and the Sacramento Union (through 1993) is available on the 3rd floor. Search the index using the word "neighborhoods," as well as the name of the neighborhood you are researching.

In addition, articles from the Sacramento Bee (1984-current) are available on the library's online catalog in the database Newsbank, which is found under the headings "Find Articles/Databases" and "Newspapers & Magazines".

Neighborhood newspapers that are available in microfilm at the Central Library's 3rd floor Periodicals Desk (unless otherwise noted), include:

• The Carmichael Times (September 1981– )
• The Fair Oaks Post (1984-March 1989)
• The Grapevine (Rancho Cordova) (June 19, 1974- )
• Land Park News (available only at Belle Cooledge Library)
• The North Sacramento Journal (1926-1963)

Other Resources in the Community

Archives

• Sacramento Archives and Museum Collection Center (SAMCC) (by appointment only):
  551 Sequoia Pacific Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95814
  Phone: (916) 264-7072
  

Historical Societies

• Citrus Heights Historical Society
  P.O. Box 14, Citrus Heights, CA 95611-0014
  Phone: 916-961-8848
• Elk Grove Historical Society
  P.O. Box 562, Elk Grove, CA 95759
  <http://eghistorical.home.comcast.net/
  home.htm>
• Fair Oaks Historical Society
  P.O. Box 2044, Fair Oaks, CA 95628
  Phone: 916-728-6653
• Florin Historical Society
  P.O. Box 292155, Florin, CA 95829-2155
• Folsom Historical Society
  823 Sutter Street, Folsom, CA 95630
  Phone: 916- 985-2707
  <http://www.museumsusa.org/data/
  museums/CA/10260.htm>
• Galt Area Historical Society
  P.O. Box 782, Galt, CA 95632
  <http://galthistory.org/>
• Natomas Historical Society
  2921 Truxel Road, Sacramento, CA 95833
  Phone: 916-419-0509
  E–mail: nathxsoc@sac.sticare.com
• Rancho del Paso Historical Society (North Sacramento)
  P.O. Box 60494, Sacramento, CA 95860-0494
• Sacramento County Historical Society
  P.O. Box 160065, Sacramento, CA 95816-0065
  Phone: 916-264-7072
  <http://www.sachistoricalsociety.org/
  about/about.htm>
• Sacramento River Delta Historical Society
  P.O. Box 293, Walnut Grove, CA 95690

Sacramento Neighbor–
hood Associations

There are a number of neighborhood associations in the Sacramento area. A directory of these associations can be found on the web site for the City of Sacramento: <http://www.cityofsacramento.org/ns/nadb/>

School District Web Sites

Some school district web sites provide historical information that relates to the surrounding neighborhoods.

• Sacramento City Unified School District: The Sacramento Unified School District Web site gives historical information on the names of all schools in the district.
  <http://www.scusd.edu/ourschools/
  school_names.htm>
• Center Unified School District
  <http://www.centerusd.k12.ca.us/history/>
• Elk Grove Unified School District
  <http://www.egusd.k12.ca.us/district/
  history.htm>

For more help, ask at a Library Information Desk, or call Telis (library reference) at (916) 264-2920.