Why did Sacramento become California's state capital? Why not San Francisco?

Answer 1

San Francisco was the largest city in California when it became a state (1850) with around 50,000 people. However, it was a lawless Western boomtown complete with violent shootouts, brothels, and homeless encampments in the streets.

The state government wanted a fresh start. However, they could not move too far from San Francisco because that's where all the banks and lawyers were. They basically bounced around Northern California for the first few years (Southern California was a lifeless desert during this time period, no dams and sophisticated water transport system yet. It wouldn't really grow until the early 1900s.)

So they went through Sonoma, San Jose, Benicia, Vallejo, and finally, in 1854, decided to settle permanently in Sacramento.

San Francisco did become the temporary capital briefly during the early stages of the Civil War because it was fortified (the federal government thought the Confederacy would try to invade California to seize its vast gold reserve). The invasion never came, of course, and less than a year later the state government moved back to Sacramento.

Since World War 2, California has moved to the "South Africa model" of having many de-facto (by practice) capitals. In the U.S., only California and Louisiana does this.

The Supreme Court of California and California State Bar moved to San Francisco from Sacramento, making it the de-facto judicial capital.

Part of the executive branch, including the Office of the Governor, has also moved to Los Angeles. This makes L.A. the de-facto administrative capital.

However, the Legislature is still in Sacramento, and it remains the de-jure (by legal right) official capital.

Answer 2

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For the first part of your question, here's what Wikipedia says: The California State Legislature, with the support of Governor John Bigler, moved to Sacramento in 1854. The capital of California under Spanish (and, subsequently, Mexican) rule had been Monterey, where in 1849 the first Constitutional Convention and state elections were held. The convention decided that San Jose would be the new state's capital. After 1850, when California's statehood was ratified, the legislature met in San Jose until 1851, Vallejo in 1852, and Benicia in 1853, before moving to Sacramento. In the 1879 Constitutional Convention, Sacramento was named to be the permanent state capital. Sacramento was founded in the Gold Rush era, and quickly became a very important place. People went to San Francisco so they could get to Sacramento near the gold. Now for your second question. If San Francisco were the capital, the people in Los Angeles wouldn't like it. If the capital were in L.A., the people in S.F. wouldn't like it. The best solution is to break it into three states: Southern California with capital at San Diego, Central California with capital at San Jose, and Northern California with capital at Sacramento. But then somebody wouldn't like that either.

Answer 3

State Capital Of California

Answer 4

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RE:
Why did Sacramento become California's state capital? Why not San Francisco?

Answer 5

If I remember correctly, in the 19th century, the Legislature was meeting in a near by city (can't remember) because the rooms were cheap. For the next meeting the people who wanted Sacramento as the state capital went to that city booking all the rooms so the legislature had to go to Sacramento to meet. I remember seeing this on Huell Howser.

Answer 6

it had more gold? it was more oganized at the time and san francisco was not fully deveolped? i don't know im just guessing.
it also in the middle of the state kind of who care anyway man just enjoy california while its not being destroied by eathquakes and sinking into the ocean. i wish i sill lived thier i want to go to collage their.......ok im going to stop typing in a few minutes i will have my life story on here.

Answer 7

They thought putting it in the middle of nowhere would mean no needless state gov. meddling in our day to day lives. Nice try, but of course it didn't work.

Answer 8

Wow, thank you! Exactly what I was searching for. I looked for the answer on the internet but I couldn't find them.

Answer 9

Not sure how to answer this one

Answer 10

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