Loading ...
Global Do...
News & Politics
7
0
Try Now
Log In
Pricing
Davis, California City of Davis Logo Motto: Most bicycle friendly town in the world Location in Yolo County and the state of California Coordinates: 38°33′14″N 121°44′17″W / 38.55389°N 121.73806°W / 38.55389; -121.73806Coordinates: 38°33′14″N 121°44′17″W / 38.55389°N 121.73806°W / 38.55389; -121.73806 Country United States State California County Yolo Settled 1868 Incorporated March 28, 1917 Government - Mayor Ruth Asmundson - Senate Lois Wolk (D) - Assembly Mariko Yamada (D) - U. S. Congress Mike Thompson (D) Area - City 10.5 sq mi (27.1 km2) - Land 10.46 sq mi (27.0 km2) - Water 0.04 sq mi (0.1 km2) 0.19% - Urban 12 sq mi (31.1 km2) Elevation 52 ft (16 m) Population (2007) - City 64,938 - Density 6,185/sq mi (2,396/km2) California Department of Finance Estimation Time zone PST (UTC-8) - Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7) ZIP codes 95616-95618 Area code(s) 530 FIPS code 06-18100 GNIS feature ID 0277498 Website http://www.city.davis.ca.us/ Davis (formerly, Davisville) is a city in Yolo County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Met- ropolitan Statistical Area. According to estim- ates published by the US Census Bureau, the city had a total population of 62,724 in 2007 (60,308 in 2000).[1] It is the largest city in Yolo County, and the 126th largest in the state, by population. Davis is known as a strongly progressive town because of its sig- nificant bike path mileage and because it contains the campus of the University of Cali- fornia, Davis. In 2006, Davis was ranked as the second most educated city (in terms of the percentage of residents with graduate de- grees) in the United States by CNN Money Magazine, after Arlington, Virginia among the best places to live.[2] In 2008, Davis was named one of the friendliest cites in the Un- ited States.[3] In 2009, Davis was ranked 19th as one of America’s Top 25 Towns to Live Well.[4] History Davis grew around a Southern Pacific Rail- road depot built in 1868. It was then known as "Davisville," named for Jerome C. Davis, a prominent local farmer. However, the post of- fice at Davisville shortened the town name to simply "Davis" in 1907. The name stuck, and From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Davis, California 1 the city of Davis was incorporated on March 28, 1917. From its inception as a farming com- munity, Davis has been known for its contri- butions to agriculture along with veterinary care and animal husbandry. Following the passage of the University Farm Bill in 1905 by the California State Legislature, Governor George Pardee selected Davis out of 50 other sites as the future home to the University of California’s University Farm, officially open- ing to students in 1908.[5] The farm, later re- named the Northern Branch of the College of Agriculture in 1922, was upgraded into the seventh UC campus, the University of Califor- nia, Davis, in 1959. Contemporary Davis is also known for its contributions in the areas of biotechnology, medicine, and other life sciences. Geography and environment Location Davis is located at 38°33′14″N 121°44′17″W / 38.55389°N 121.73806°W / 38.55389; -121.73806 (38.553856, -121.738095)[6] in Yolo County, California. The city is 18 km (11 mi) west of Sacramento, 113 km (72 mi) northeast of San Francisco, 619 km (385 mi) north of Los Angeles, at the intersection of Interstate 80 and State Route 113. Neighbor- ing towns include Dixon, Winters, and Woodland. Davis lies in the Sacramento Valley, the northern portion of the Central Valley, in Northern California, at an elevation of about 16 m (52 ft) above sea level. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.1 km2 (10.5 mi2). 27.1 km2 (10.4 mi2) of it is land and 0.1 km2 (0.04 mi2) of it (0.19%) is water. The topography of Davis is very flat, which has helped Davis to become known as a haven for bicyclists. Climate The climate in Davis resembles that of nearby Sacramento. Davis’ climate is typical of that in California’s Central Valley. The dry, hot summers and mild winters are typical of a Mediterranean climate. The Davis climate re- sembles a Csa Köppen climate system. Neighborhoods Davis is internally divided by two freeways (Interstate 80 and State Route 113), a north- south railroad, and several major roads. The city is unofficially divided into five main dis- tricts made up of smaller neighborhoods: Part of the UC Davis Arboretum. • Central Davis, north of Fifth Street and Russell Boulevard, south of Covell Blvd., east of SR 113, and west of the railroad tracks running along G Street. • Downtown Davis, roughly the numbered- and-lettered grid north of I-80, south of Fifth Street, east of A Street, and west of the railroad tracks. • East Davis, north of I-80, south of Covell Blvd., and east of the railroad tracks, and includes Mace Ranch and Lake Alhambra Estates. • North Davis, north of Covell Blvd. between SR 113 and the railroad tracks. • South Davis, south of I-80, and includes Willowbank. El Macero, California, although outside the city limits, is sometimes considered part of South Davis. • West Davis, north of I-80 and west of SR 113. West Davis includes Westwood, Evergreen, Aspen, Stonegate (west of Lake Boulevard and including Stonegate Lake and the Stonegate Country Club) and the eco-friendly Village Homes development, known for its solar-powered houses. • Wildhorse, north of Covell Blvd., east of Poleline Rd. The University of California, Davis is located south of Russell Boulevard and west of A Street and then south of 1st Street. The land occupied by the university, except for the Cuarto residential complex, is not incorpor- ated within the boundaries of the city of Davis. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Davis, California 2 Environment On November 14, 1984 the Davis City Coun- cil declared the city to be a nuclear free zone.[7] Ironically, the university has had a nuclear facility on campus since 1966.[8][9] Demographics Historical populations Census Pop. %± 1870 500 — 1880 441 −11.8% 1890 547 24.0% 1900 700 28.0% 1910 800 14.3% 1920 939 17.4% 1930 1,243 32.4% 1940 1,672 34.5% 1950 3,554 112.6% 1960 8,910 150.7% 1970 23,488 163.6% 1980 36,640 56.0% 1990 46,209 26.1% 2000 60,308 30.5% Est. 2007 64,938 7.7% As of the United States 2000 Census[10], there were 60,308 people, 22,948 house- holds, and 11,290 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,228.2/km2 (5,769.2/mi2). There were 23,617 housing units at an average density of 872.6/km2 (2,259.3/mi2). The racial makeup of the city was 70.07% White, 2.35% Black or African American, 0.67% Native American, 17.5% Asian, 0.24% Pacific Islander, 4.26% from other races, and 4.87% from two or more races. 9.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[11] There were 22,948 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.8% were non-families. 25.0% of all house- holds were made up of individuals and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00. In the city the population was spread out with 18.6% under the age of 18, 30.9% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 16.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $42,454, and the median income for a family was $74,051 (these figures had risen to $56,512 and $96,398 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[12]). Males had a median in- come of $51,189 versus $36,082 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,937. About 5.4% of families and 24.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over. This city of approximately 62,000 people is home to a university campus of 31,000 students. Bicycling Bikes in front of the Davis Amtrak station. Bicycling has been a popular mode of trans- portation in Davis for decades, particularly among UC Davis students. Bicycle infrastructure became a political issue in the 1960s, culminating in the elec- tion of a pro-bicycle majority to the City Council in 1966.[13] By the early 1970s, Davis became a pioneer in the implementation of cycling facilities. As the city expands, new fa- cilities are usually mandated. As a result, Davis residents today enjoy an extensive net- work of bike lanes, bike paths, and grade- separated bicycle crossings. The flat terrain and temperate climate are also conducive to bicycling. There are several roundabouts on the campus to help with the flow of the bikes. Some of the larger roundabouts have up to From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Davis, California 3 four entrances and during "rush hour" they can get very congested. Sometimes people will get stuck in the circle and have to ride around in circles until there is an opening to get out. At the beginning of the academic year, resident advisors in the dormitories will tell first year students to walk the first week of class because there are many bike acci- dents. Also at the beginning of the year, people will set up lawn chairs along side the roundabouts to watch the bike accidents as they happen. Bicycle crossing over Covell Blvd. In 2005 the Bicycle-Friendly Community program of the League of American Bicyclists recognized Davis as the first Platinum Level city in the U.S.[14] In March 2006, Bicycling magazine named Davis the best small town for cycling in its compilation of "America’s Best Biking Cities."[15] Yet bicycling appears to be on the wane among Davis residents. From 1990 to 2000, the U.S. census reported a decline in the fraction of commuters travel- ing by bicycle, from 22 percent to 15 per- cent.[16] In 1994, 2001, and 2006 the UC Davis "Cal Aggie Cycling" Team won the national road cycling competition. The team also competes off-road and on the track, and has competed in the national competitions of these disciplines. In 2007, UC Davis also or- ganized a record breaking bicycle parade numbering 913 bicycles. Davis was selected as the site for the new home of the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame, on April 10, 2009.[17] Davis served as the start of the first stage of the 2009 Tour of California bicycle race.[18] Sights and culture Whole Earth Festival A continuous stream of bands, speakers and various workshops occurs throughout the second weekend in May on each of WEF’s three stages and other specialty areas. The majority of the festival is solar powered. WEF is organized primarily by UC Davis students, in association with the Associated Students of UC Davis (ASUCD), Experimental College, and the university. Picnic Day Picnic Day is an annual event at the University of California, Davis and is always held on the third Saturday in April. It is the largest student-run event in the US. Picnic Day starts off with a parade, which features the UC Davis California Aggie Marching Band-uh!, and runs through campus and around downtown Davis and ends with the Battle of the Bands, which lasts until the last band stops playing (sometimes until 2 a.m.). There are over 150 free events and over 50,000 attend every year. Other highlights include: the Dachshund races, aka the Doxie Derby, held in the Pavilion; the Davis Rock Challenge, the Chemistry Magic Show, the sheep dog trials, and of course the wonderful food made by student groups. Many depart- ments have exhibits and demonstrations, such as the Cole Facility, which until recently showed a fistulated cow (a cow that has been fitted with a plastic portal (a "fistula") into its digestive system to observe digestion pro- cesses). Its name was "Hole-y Cow". Mondavi Center The Mondavi Center, located on the UC Davis campus, is one of the biggest non-seasonal attractions to Davis. The Mondavi Center is a theatre which hosts many world-class touring acts, including star performers such as Yo-Yo Ma and Cecilia Bartoli, and draws a large audience from Sacramento. Arboretum The UC Davis Arboretum is an arboretum and botanical garden. Plants from around the world grow in different sections of the park. There are notable oak and native plant col- lections and a small redwood grove. A small waterway spans the arboretum along the bed of the old North Fork of Putah Creek. You can occasionally see herons, kingfishers, and cormorants around the waterways, as well as ever-present ducks. Tours of the arboretum led by volunteer naturalists are available for elementary school children. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Davis, California 4 Farmers market The Davis Farmers Market[19] is held every Wednesday evening and Saturday morning. Participants sell a range of fruits and veget- ables, baked goods, dairy and meat products (often from certified organic farms), crafts, and plants and flowers. From April to Octo- ber, the market hosts Picnic in the Park, with musical events and food sold from restaurant stands. Media Davis has one daily newspaper, the Davis En- terprise, founded in 1897. UC Davis also has a daily newspaper called the The California Aggie which covers campus, local and nation- al news. There is a community television sta- tion (DCTV), along with numerous commer- cial stations broadcasting from nearby Sacra- mento. There are also two community radio stations: KDVS 90.3 FM, on the University of California campus, and KDRT 95.7 FM, a sub- sidiary of DMA and one of the first low-power FM radio stations in the United States. Davis also has the world’s largest English-language local wiki, DavisWiki.[20] Toad Tunnel The Post Office Davis’ Toad Tunnel is a wildlife crossing that was constructed in 1995 and has drawn much attention over the years, including a mention on The Daily Show. Because of the building of an overpass, animal lovers wor- ried about toads being killed by cars commut- ing from South Davis to North Davis, since the toads hopped from one side of a dirt lot (which the overpass replaced) to the reser- voir at the other end. After much contro- versy, a decision was made to build a toad tunnel, which runs beneath the Pole Line Road overpass which crosses Interstate 80. The project cost $14,000. The tunnel is 21 inches (53 cm) wide and 18 inches (46 cm) high. The tunnel has created problems of its own. The toads originally refused to use the tunnel and so the tunnel was lit to encourage its use. The toads then died from the heat of the lamps inside the tunnel. Once through the tunnel, the toads also had to contend with birds who grew wise to the toad-produ- cing hole in the ground. The exit to the toad tunnel has been decorated by the Post- Master to resemble a toad town. Notable Davisites • Sara Albert, 3rd runner-up on America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 6 and former fashion model • Peter S. Beagle, author (The Last Unicorn) • Butterscotch (performer), beatboxer • Colin Carter, professor (UC Davis) • Tony Cline, Jr., NFL tight end • Denise Curry, basketball player • Josh Davis, AKA DJ Shadow, famous for his critically acclaimed sample based Trip- Hop • David Dionisi, author (American Hiroshima) • Delaine Eastin, former California State Superintendent of Public Instruction • Jason Fisk, NFL defensive tackle • Karen Joy Fowler, author • Michael Franti, lead singer of Spearhead • Myril Hoag, former MLB outfielder • Rita Hosking, musician • Gary Huckabay, author (Baseball Prospectus) • Nyjah Huston, professional Skateboarder • John Lescroart, author • Mike May, entrepreneur and athlete, regained sight after decades of complete blindness From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Davis, California 5 • Barry Melton, musician • Gina Miles, 2008 Beijing Olympic Silver Medalist, Equestrian Eventing team • June Millington, musician and founder of the rock band Fanny • Paul Moller, inventor and professor • Kim Stanley Robinson, science-fiction author; famous works include Mars trilogy • Stephen Robinson, astronaut (received Bachelor’s degree from UC Davis, 1978) • Paul Scheuring, screenwriter (Prison Break, A Man Apart) • Dave Scott, triathlete - six times Ironman Triathlon world champion • G. Ledyard Stebbins, botanist • Sean Stewart, author • Charles Tart, parapsychologist • Alan Taylor, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and professor of history • Jessica Utts, Professor of Statistics, parapsychologist • Nick Watney, PGA Tour golfer • Lois Wolk, California state senator • Mariko Yamada, California state assemblymember • Gary Lee Yoder, musician, part of several 1960s psychedelic rock bands Education University of California The University of California, Davis, or UC Davis, a campus of the University of Califor- nia, had an enrollment of 30,475 students as of Fall 2006[21], and is a major research uni- versity. UC Davis provides a major influence on the social and cultural life of the town. D-Q University Entrance and mural at D-Q University. Also known as Deganawidah-Quetzalcoatl University and much smaller than UC Davis, D-Q University is a two-year institution loc- ated on Road 31 in Yolo County 6.7 miles (11 km) west of State Route 113. This is just west of Davis near the Yolo County Airport. About four miles (6 km) to the west, the Road 31 exit from Interstate 505 is marked with cryptic signage, "DQU." The site is about 100 feet (30 m) above mean sea level (AMSL). NAD83 coordinates for the campus are 38°34′02″N 121°53′12″W / 38.56722°N 121.88667°W / 38.56722; -121.88667 The curriculum is said to include heritage and traditional American Indian ceremonies. The 643 acres (2.6 km2) and 5 buildings were formerly a military reservation according to a National Park Service publication, Five Views. The full name of the school is included here so that readers can accurately identify the topic. According to some tribal members, use of the spelled-out name of the university can be offensive. People who want to be cul- turally respectful refer to the institution as D- Q University. Tribal members in appropriate circumstances may use the full name. Other colleges An off-campus branch of Sacramento City College is located in Davis. Public schools Davis’ public school system is administrated by the Davis Joint Unified School District. The city has nine public elementary schools (North Davis, Birch Lane, Pioneer Elementary, Patwin, Cesar Chavez, Robert E. Willett, Marguerite Montgomery, Fred T. Korematsu at Mace Ranch, and Fairfield Ele- mentary (which is outside the city limits but opened in 1866 and is Davis Joint Unified School District’s oldest public school)). Davis has one school for independent study (Davis School for Independent Study), three public junior high schools (Ralph Waldo Emerson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Frances Harper), one main high school (Davis Senior High School), an alternative high school (Martin Luther King High School), and a small technology-based high school (Leonardo da Vinci High School). Cesar Chavez is a Span- ish immersion school, with no English integ- ration until the third grade. The junior high schools contain grades 7 through 9. Due to a decline in the school-age population in Davis, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Davis, California 6 several of the elementary schools may be closed. Valley Oak was closed after the 2007-08 school year. At one time, Chavez and Willett were in- corporated together to provide elementary education K-6 to both English-speaking and Spanish immersion students in West Davis. Cesar Chavez served grades K-3 and was called West Davis Elementary, and Robert E. Willett (named for a long-time teacher at the school, now deceased) served grades 4-6 and was known as West Davis Intermediate. Wil- lett now serves K-6 English speaking stu- dents, and Chavez supports the Spanish im- mersion program for K-6. Private schools Davis has a number of private elementary schools. These include Davis Waldorf School, Saint James School, Merryhill Elementary School, Grace Valley Christian Academy. Sister cities Davis has eight sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, and the city of Davis: • Inuyama, Japan • Qufu, China • Uman, Ukraine • Wuxi, China • Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines • Sangju, South Korea • Science City of Muñoz, Philippines • Rutilio Grande, El Salvador References [1] "Davis, California Population Finder". US Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ SAFFPopulation?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=16000US0618100&_geoContext=01000US&_st Retrieved on 2008-12-08. [2] "MONEY magazine: Best places to live 2006: Top 25 Most Educated" [3] "The 5 Friendliest Cities in America - TODAY Technology & Money" [4] "FORBES In Depth: America’s Top 25 Towns To Live Well" [5] Davis: Historical Overview University of California History Retrieved on 02-17-08 [6] "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/ www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. [7] Nuclear Free Zone - Davis Wiki [8] Crocker Nuclear Laboratory [9] Fell, Andy. "Crocker Nuclear Lab at 40" (in English). UC Davis. http://www.ucdavis.edu/spotlight/0706/ crocker_nuclear_lab.html. Retrieved on 2008-12-02. [10] "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. [11]Factfinder.census.gov Retrieved on 05-15-07 [12]http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US06 [13]http://www.ci.davis.ca.us/pw/pdfs/ 2006_BikePlan_withMaps.pdf Ci.davis.ca.us Retrieved on 05-15-07 [14]http://www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org/ October2005awards.htm Bicyclefriendlycommunity.org Retrieved on 05-15-07 [15]http://www.davisenterprise.com/articles/ 2006/01/29/news/339new5.txt Davisenterprise.com Retrieved on 05-15-07 [16]http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ DatasetMainPageServlet?_program=DEC&_submenu Factfinder.census.gov Retrieved on 05-15-07 [17] "Bicycle Hall of Fame will relocate to Davis". http://www.sacbee.com/local/ story/1772213.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-29. [18] "Amgen Tour of California: Stage 1". http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/ Route/stages/stage1.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-23. [19]Davis Farmers Market [20]Davis Wiki [21]UC Davis News & Information:: UC Davis Facts: Student Population Headcount, Fall 1997-2007 External links • Web site for the city government • Yolo County Visitors Bureau - information on hotels, restaurants and attractions in Davis • Evolution of a Bicycle Friendly Community - the Davis Model • Davis Farmer’s Market site - includes directions and calendar of events From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Davis, California 7 • The Davis Enterprise newspaper site • Davis Community Network, one of the nation’s oldest community networks • Davis Media Access Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davis,_California" Categories: Davis, California, Nuclear-free zones, Sacramento metropolitan area, Yolo County, California This page was last modified on 13 May 2009, at 21:41 (UTC). All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details.) Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) tax- deductible nonprofit charity. Privacy policy About Wikipedia Disclaimers From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Davis, California 8