Vallejo is a friendly, scenic city of approximately 119,708. This is a city with rich history, vibrant culture, ideal climate, and top-notch recreational and educational facilities. Vallejo boasts a high quality of life and flourishing business opportunities as well as prime location, within easy access to several major metropolitan areas. It´s all here, in Vallejo!
Location
The city of Vallejo is the largest City in Solano County and is located in the northern region of San Francisco Bay Area, near San Francisco, Fairfield and Benicia. Vallejo is located at the southern end of the Napa Valley.
Vallejo is located 34 miles south of Santa Rosa, 21 miles north of Oakland, 24 miles northeast of San Francisco and 52 miles southwest of Sacramento.
Vallejo is situated at the junction of I-80 and Hwy 780. I-80 is the main interstate highway that travels north and south through Vallejo.
Geography/Terrain
Vallejo has a total area of 48.8 square miles. Of this area, 30.2 square miles is land and 18.6 square miles, or 38%, is water. Vallejo is situated on San Pablo Bay at the mouth of the Napa River. The Bay is home to a 12,000-acre wildlife refuge, which includes uplands, open water, salt marshes and mudflats. The Napa River is a primary source of freshwater to San Francisco Bay, and offers excellent fishing.
Jobs
Vallejo was recently ranked sixteenth in the United States and third in California for projected percentage employment growth. The city´s location and proximity to San Francisco are excellent assets for business expansion and growth. Vallejo´s climate, diverse workforce and quality of life attract businesses from the entire Country. The privatization of Mare Island Naval Base has given the area opportunities for a wide range of enterprise. It is an integral part of the Bio-Tech industry as well as a location for High-Tech companies.
The major employers in Vallejo are; Kaiser Permanente Vallejo, Vallejo Unified School District, Six Flags Marine World at Vallejo, Kaiser Permanente Advice and Call Center, City of Vallejo, Sutter Solano Medical Center, U.S. Forest Service, and California Highway Patrol Regional Office. Trade and processing of farm products, flour-milling and meatpacking are also significant industries in the area, as well as ship salvaging and repair. The average time to travel to work in the area is 34 minutes.
Housing
Vallejo has a wide range of available housing options, from new single-family residences, to older, established homes, and condominiums. In west Vallejo the Median home price has increased significantly over the last few years, bringing it to $407,500. The upper range for a home in the area is $540,000. In east Vallejo the median home price has increased as well, bringing it to $375,000, and the highest selling price is $1,780,000.
Recreation
Vallejo has ample parkland and open spaces for outdoor activities. The Greater Vallejo Recreation District oversees 4 community parks and 19 neighborhood parks located throughout the city.
Dan Foley Park encompasses 60 acres and features a cultural center, a baseball field, picnic areas, play equipment, soccer fields, a basketball court, fishing dock, and a nature trail around Lake Chabot.
Blue Rock Springs covers 29 acres and includes a historic site, picnic areas, play equipment, and a small lake and island with ducks and peacocks. It has a hiking trail that provides access to the ridge of the Sulfur Springs Mountain with spectacular views of Vallejo and the Napa River.
The San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 12,000 acres of land along the northern edge of San Pablo Bay between Vallejo and the Petaluma River. It lies along the north shore of San Pablo Bay in Sonoma, Solano, and Napa Counties and the terrain includes open marsh, mud flats, and wetland habitats. The refuge provides habitat for endangered, threatened, and sensitive shorebirds and waterfowl. The San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a prime spot for birdwatchers.
The City of Vallejo has a spectacular waterfront and municipal marina where water activities such as fishing, sailing, and jet skiing are enjoyed.
Golfers will find several excellent courses in the area on which to test their skills. Blue Rock Springs, Chardonnay Golf Club, Hiddenbrooke Country Club, and the Mare Island Golf Course provide a combined 109 holes of golfing challenge. Mare Island Golf Club was originally constructed in 1892 as a nine-hole course. An additional 9 holes were opened in 2000, expanding the course to 245 acres. The course has great views of the San Pablo Bay and Sacramento River Delta from every hole.
Special Attractions/Events
The City of Vallejo boasts a full and rich arts and cultural life. Vallejo is home to a professional symphony orchestra, several choral groups, theatrical companies, dance troupes, and a visual arts organization.
There are numerous classes and workshops in performing and visual arts available at Solano Community College, Vallejo Adult School, and the Greater Vallejo Recreation District.
Vallejo is perhaps best known for its Six Flags Marine World theme park, one of the only combination animal park, oceanarium, and theme parks in the world.
Vallejo is also home to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard and the Solano County Fairgrounds.
Vallejo is known as the gateway to the Napa Valley, one of the most famous grape growing and wine making regions in the world!
From Vallejo, the California Wine Ship, an authentic paddle wheeler, travels up the Napa River while passengers enjoy great food and fine wine. Other activities in the wine country include hot air ballooning and relaxing spa treatments.
Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places
Vallejo was named for the Mexican military officer, Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, who helped to settle the area. He wanted the site named Eureka, but the other citizens of the area wanted to name the new city after him.
Vallejo was the first permanent home of California’s state government. For one week in 1852, Vallejo was the capital of California. One year later, it was again the capital, this time for one month.
Vallejo is also the home of the first and most famous naval shipbuilding and repair facility on the west coast, Mare Island Naval Shipyard. The yard functioned for over a hundred years, closing in 1996. It is now open for formal tours of its unique and extensive history. It features St. Peter´s Chapel, with its priceless collection of Tiffany stained glass windows, magnificent mansions on “Officers Row,” the historic stone dry dock built over the course of almost 20 years late in the 19th Century, and the building ways where almost 500 ships from sailing vessels to nuclear submarines were built and launched. Between 1859 and 1970, Mare Island built over 500 ships for the Navy.
Vallejo was the location for the filming of the 1998 movie, “Sphere” and the 2004 movies, “50 First Dates” and “Twisted”.
Famous residents of Vallejo are Jeff Gordon, a racecar driver, and Natalie Coughlin, an Olympic swimming gold medallist.
Downtown Vallejo has maintained many of its historic Victorian and Craftsman homes.
The Benicia Historical Museum, Napa Valley Museum, Travis Air Force Museum, Vacaville Museum, and the Western Railway Museum are all located in the area.
