Live, learn, play and thrive in Sacramento

Sacramento may be the fastest-growing city in all of California, but new and established locals are committed to ensuring it builds on its eclectic, intellectual, artsy personality. Backed by deep history as an agricultural center of the West, the Sacramento region’s emerging spirit of innovation, expression and academia have sparked smart, wellplanned growth.

From worldrenowned art, recreation and dining, to new housing and a funky subculture of “dive bars” and live music, Sacramento maintains an identity of its own. “In the shadow of San Diego, Los Angeles and the Bay Area, you can get lost in the shuffle,” said Barry Broome, president and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council. There are upsides to being in the shadows, however, such as not being overly impacted. “We’ve found balance; we’re growing successfully and in a smart way.”

Much of the area’s growth has occurred in the past few years, Broome said. “We’ve had long-standing agricultural, health care and life sciences industries, but more growth began when the NBA decided the Kings could stay.” Following a prolonged threat that the professional basketball team may move, the Kings’ new majority owners and the NBA let them stay put. By 2016, Sacramento was home to Golden 1 Center — the “greenest” and most high-tech arena in the country. “Investors and the public gained a lot of new confidence in Sacramento after that,” Broome said.

Private and public investors have become more involved in the area’s arts, culture and