SOLANO COUNTY
County Offices
675 Texas Street
Fairfield 707-784-6100
https://www.solanocounty.com/
Chamber of Commerce
1111 Webster Street
Fairfield 707-425-4625
https://www.fairfieldsuisunchamber.com/
Straddling the San Francisco Bay Area and the Sacramento Valley, Solano County enjoys a unique and idyllic location. The establishment of Travis Air Force Base, easy access to the Bay Area, and an abundance of land have all been factors in the county’s phenomenal growth and development.
Services
Small enough to preserve its “Old California” appeal yet large enough to attract and support major industries, Solano County is a delightful blend of quaint and modern, peaceful and stimulating. Educational opportunities in this area include quality public and private schools that are dedicated to providing modern classrooms and a progressive curriculum. An affordable start on a four-year college degree is available locally at Solano Community College, stretching across nearly 200 acres in Fairfield. The college also offers many degree and certificate programs and continuing education. More than 6,000 students take advantage of these non-credit course options. Off-campus facilities are available in Vallejo, Vacaville, and Travis Air Force Base. The college offers a theater complex, modern athletic facilities, a spacious student center, and an extensive library. Voter-approved funds nearing $125 million will ensure expanding facilities at all sites through 2009.
The California Maritime Academy in Vallejo is part of the California State University System, providing four-year degree programs in marine transportation, marine engineering technology, mechanical engineering, and business administration. Touro University is a Jewish-sponsored private institution based in New York City that maintains a College of Osteopathic Medicine and College of Health Sciences on Mare Island in Vallejo. Other nearby institutions include St. Mary’s College of Moraga, Dominican College of San Rafael, and Chapman University with campuses in Fairfield and Concord.
State-of-the-art healthcare is available in Solano County, anchored by NorthBay Healthcare. Two hospitals are included within this comprehensive system, the Fairfield-based NorthBay Medical Center and VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville. NorthBay Medical Center boasts the only newborn intensive care and radiation oncology services in Solano and Yolo counties as well as the county’s only formal trauma response system. Sutter Solano Medical Center provides a community-based, full-service 111-bed acute care hospital affiliated with the Sutter Health system. The system serves 100 Northern California communities, which enhances the level of care available locally through shared resources. David Grant Medical Center also provides a regional 265-bed, $200 million Air Force medical facility for active and retired military personnel in Solano County. The world-famous Children’s Hospital is just 30 miles to the south in Oakland, and the John Muir Medical Center is 20 miles to the east in Walnut Creek.
Lifestyle
Quiet communities, first-class recreational opportunities, easy access to Bay Area and Capital City attractions, and efficient transportation facilities make Solano County a comfortable place to call home. Housing options are diverse and attractive, from well-kept older homes to country manors and handsome new subdivisions.
Water-sport enthusiasts are drawn to Solano County for its close proximity to the California Delta and world-class boating opportunities. Old Town Suisun is located on the Suisun Channel, which empties into the confluence of the Sacramento River and the San Francisco Bay. Today, this redeveloped waterfront features a public marina, promenade, and harbor plaza. The channel was deepened to allow boating excursions to the bay and the delta.
Nestled again the Sacramento River, Sandy Beach Park near the town of Rio Vista offers a sandy beach with boat-launch, camp sites, picnic grounds, a hiking trail, and miles of country roads for bicycling. A popular destination since its creation in 1973, Lake Solano Park provides a scenic backdrop for fishing, boating, camping, swimming, sunbathing, and picnicking. Other common pastimes are hiking, bicycling, birdwatching, and wildlife photography. Each year, more than 200,000 visitors enjoy a wealth of recreational activities.
Those who appreciate the arts will find a number of treasures in Solano County, crowned by the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre. Since its opening in 1992, this intimate 500-seat venue has become a magnet for talented performers. Providing a live stage experience for local schools and community groups, the theatre is a hub for Solano County performing arts. The Fairfield Center for the Creative Arts combines with a number of fine galleries to encourage and promote artistic expression throughout the county, and Vallejo’s rich legacy of performing and visual art organizations continues to thrive and grow. From its well-managed communities to its lush parks and welcoming neighborhoods, Solano County excels in livability.
Benicia
Municipal Offices
707-746-4210
https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/
Chamber of Commerce
707-745-2120
https://www.beniciachamber.com/
Historic Benicia lies on the East Bay shoreline just 37 miles northeast of San Francisco and 58 miles southwest of Sacramento. Nestled against Carquinez Strait, this waterfront community boasts a thriving marina, antique shops, art studios, and eclectic boutiques. Excelling in small-town appeal and historic charm, the city is known throughout the Bay Area as a wonderful place to live and raise a family. The abundant leisure and recreational activities include a wide variety of colorful events and activities from home and gallery tours to craft fairs and a downtown farmers market. Downtown Benicia is rich in California’s history with more than 30 historical points of interest. Tree-lined streets showcase Victorian-inspired architecture that blends with false-front Western architectural examples that date back to the 1850s. Popular recreational activities include boating, hiking, swimming, fishing, and sailing.
Dixon
Municipal Offices
707-678-7000
https://www.cityofdixon.us/
Chamber of Commerce
707-678-2650
http://dixonchamber.org
From its genesis, Dixon has served as a commercial and transportation hub for the Sacramento Valley. This business-friendly city plays a vital role in the state’s fastest-growing county, ideally located along Interstate 80 and the Transcontinental railway corridor. Dixon has managed to preserve its small-town charm in close proximity to the attractions of Sacramento and San Francisco, the Napa and Sonoma wine regions, the rugged Northern California Coast, and Lake Tahoe. Residents are only five miles from the academic and cultural resources of the University of California at Davis. Reasonable land and real estate prices, an affordable cost of living, 80 acres of lush parks, good schools, and a prime location add to the quality of life. Recreational opportunities include developed sports facilities as well as vast tracts of panoramic open space and varied terrain.
Fairfield
Municipal Offices
707-428-7400
https://www.fairfield.ca.gov/
Chamber of Commerce
707-425-4625
https://www.fairfieldsuisunchamber.com/
The county seat of Fairfield also serves as a center of education, culture, healthcare, and commerce. Although small-town friendliness and values remain, Fairfield has matured into a prime location for business and industry. The city has evolved from a quiet, tree-shaded bedroom community into a vital economic force. Lower housing costs, an excellent transportation network, suburban conveniences, and a high quality of life make Fairfield an attractive place to work and live. The city’s unique blend of cultures adds the richness of diversity and an international flavor to the warm and welcoming atmosphere that reflects its “Old West” roots. Comfortable year-round temperatures and a mild climate enhance the opportunities for recreation, from California Delta water sports to lush parks and developed sports facilities.
Rio Vista
Municipal Offices
707-374-6451
https://www.riovistacity.com/
Chamber of Commerce
707-374-2700
https://riovista.org/
Distinguished as one of the fastest-growing cities in Solano County and the California Delta region, Rio Vista is 45 miles northeast of San Francisco and 35 miles from Sacramento. The largest landmark in the city is the Rio Vista Bridge, one of many drawbridges designed by Joseph Strauss—the architect of the Golden Gate Bridge. Hugging the historic Sacramento River with views of the rolling Montezuma Hills to the south, Rio Vista and the surrounding Delta offer a recreational paradise for boaters, anglers, and water-sport enthusiasts. The town has managed to preserve its small-town flavor in spite of its close proximity to two of the largest population centers in Northern California. Local merchants, restaurants, and service organizations welcome newcomers and visitors who are drawn to the area for world-class windsurfing, water-skiing, jetskiing, sailboating, yacht cruising, and sport fishing.
Suisun
Municipal Offices
707-421-7300
https://www.suisun.com/Home
Chamber of Commerce
707-425-4625
https://www.fairfieldsuisunchamber.com/
Experiencing rapid growth and expansion, Suisun City is drawing new residents and new businesses to an affordable and convenient lifestyle. The city has received national recognition for its ongoing revitalization work, made possible through a cooperative effort by residents and civic planners. Distinguished as the only waterfront community in the county, Suisun is surrounded by beautiful rolling vistas and an 85,000-acre wildlife preserve. The redeveloped tree-lined waterfront plaza includes a 5,000-foot promenade for pedestrians and bicyclists and a 150-berth marina with state-of-the-art facilities. The population in Suisun has tripled within the past 15 years, with more aggressive growth predicted through the next two decades. The bustling Highway 12 corridor is enhanced by close proximity to Interstate 80, just one-half mile away.
Vacaville
Municipal Offices
707-449-5100
https://www.ci.vacaville.ca.us/
Chamber of Commerce
707-448-6424
https://www.vacavillechamber.com/
The community of Vacaville commands a beautiful setting bordered by rolling hillsides, fruit orchards, and fertile farmland. Through the decades, newcomers have transformed yesterday’s small agricultural town into a thriving and progressive city with a population nearing 100,000. A mild and enjoyable climate, a rich sense of history, and a high level of community involvement have contributed to the area’s quality growth and expansion. Other magnets to this family-oriented community are affordable housing, good schools, activities for youth, and colorful events throughout the four seasons. Residents of all ages participate in organized sports leagues from soccer and baseball to ice hockey. Sate-of-the-art public recreation facilities include a skateboard park and a new community pool with water slides. Other highlights include the crown jewel of the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, Lagoon Valley Park, the scenic Creekwalk, the historic downtown district, a popular factory outlet center, and wonderful dining experiences.
Vallejo
Municipal Offices
707-648 4575
https://www.ci.vallejo.ca.us/
Chamber of Commerce
707-644-5551
https://www.vallejochamber.com/
Boasting a long and rich history of cultural enrichment, Vallejo is home to a symphony orchestra, choral groups, theatrical companies, dance troupes, and a visual arts organization. Even the Greater Vallejo Recreation District offers classes and workshops in performing and visual arts. The Fetterly Playhouse Theater is home to the Vallejo Music Theater and provides a stage for several other talented groups including the Solano Repertory Company. Many of the community’s annual events are culturally driven, such as the Vallejo Artists Open Studios, the Shoreline Jazz Art & Wine Festival, and the Bay Area Blues Society’s waterfront Blues Festival. Many newcomers are drawn to Vallejo for its colorful diversity and sense of revival and revitalization. New artists are joining those who have called the city home for several decades, blending in with families, young professionals, and retirees.
