Sacramento has been the state capital of California since 1854. Once the state’s second largest city, Sacramento was a major distribution center during the California Gold Rush and was the western terminus of the Pony Express.
The American River, where gold was first discovered in California in the middle of the 19th century, flows through the city. In the market boom between 2003 and 2008, the population of the metropolitan area reached close to 2.5 million people as suburbs such as Roseville, Lincoln, and Elk Grove grew, making the Sacramento region the largest region in the California’s Central Valley.
According to the 2010 census, Sacramento is the nineteenth most-populous metropolitan area in the United States. Sacramento is home to the National Basketball Association’s Sacramento Kings. California State University, Sacramento is situated in the city.