Solano County, California

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Solano County
County
Official seal of Solano County
Seal
Map of California highlighting Solano County
Location within the U.S. state of California
Map of the United States highlighting California
California's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°16′N 121°56′W / 38.27°N 121.94°W / 38.27; -121.94
Country United States
State California
Founded1850
SeatFairfield
Population
 (2000)
 • Total394,542
Websitewww.co.solano.ca.us

Solano County is a county located in central part of the U.S. state of California, about halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento and is one of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. As of 2000 its population was 394,542. The county seat is Fairfield.

History

Solano County was one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood. Prior to statehood, it had been referred to as Benicia County.[citation needed]

At the request of General Mariano Vallejo, the county derives its name directly from an Indian Chief, Chief Solano of the Suisunes, a Native American tribe of the region and Vallejo's close ally. Chief Solano at one time led the tribes between the Petaluma River and the Sacramento River. The chief was also called Sem-Yeto, which signifies "brave or fierce hand." The Chief was given the Spanish name Francisco Solano during baptism at the Catholic Mission, and is named after the Spanish Franciscan missionary, Father Francisco Solano. "Solano" is a common surname in the north of Spain, specially in Navarra, Zaragoza and La Rioja.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,348 km² (907 mi²). 2,148 km² (829 mi²) of it is land and 201 km² (77 mi²) of it (8.55%) is water.

Cities and towns

File:CourtHouse Fairfield California USA.jpg
Fairfield, Court House, California

Unincorporated communities

Adjacent Counties

Environmental factors

Solano county has a number of rare and endangered species including the wildflower Lasthenia conjugens, commonly known as Contra Costa goldfields and the annual plant Legenere limosa or False Venus' looking glass.

Solano County has several inactive cinnabar mines including the Hastings Mine and St. John's Mine,[1] both of which are subject to ongoing environmental monitoring; these mines were worked in the first half of the twentieth century.

Transportation Infrastructure

Major Highways

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 394,542 people, 130,403 households, and 97,411 families residing in the county. The population density was 184/km² (476/mi²). There were 134,513 housing units at an average density of 63/km² (162/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 56.37% White, 14.91% Black or African American, 0.79% Native American, 12.75% Asian, 0.78% Pacific Islander, 8.01% from other races, and 6.39% from two or more races. 17.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 130,403 households out of which 39.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.70% were married couples living together, 13.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.30% were non-families. 19.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.33.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.30% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 9.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 101.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $54,099, and the median income for a family was $60,597. Males had a median income of $41,787 versus $31,916 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,731. About 6.10% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.30% of those under age 18 and 6.30% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Presidential elections results
Year GOP Dems
2004 41.9% 62,301 57.2% 85,096
2000 39.2% 51,604 57.0% 75,116
1996 34.7% 40,742 55.1% 64,644
1992 29.4% 38,883 48.7% 64,320
1988 47.4% 50,314 51.2% 54,344
1984 54.5% 51,678 44.3% 41,982
1980 50.7% 40,919 38.4% 30,952
1976 42.4% 26,136 54.6% 33,682
1972 54.0% 31,314 42.7% 24,766
1968 34.7% 17,683 53.5% 27,271
1964 30.4% 15,263 69.5% 34,930
1960 40.9% 18,751 58.8% 26,977

Trivia

In 1985 Humphrey the Humpback whale strayed off his migration route and ended up in Rio Vista at which point rescuers from The Marine Mammal Center and other volunteers were able to turn him around in the narrow river channel.

See also

References

  1. ^ C.Michael Hogan, Marc Papineau et al., Environmental Assessment of the columbus Parkway Widening between Ascot Parkway and the Northgate Development, Vallejo, Earth Metrics Inc. Report 7853, California State Clearinghouse, Sept, 1989

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Solano_County,_California&oldid=109193511"