Suisun City embodies a cross-section of the endlessly attractive California lifestyle. The City's 28,000 residents have easy access to Northern California's two major urban centers – the San Francisco Bay Area and the Sacramento Capitol region – as well as the Stockton metro area. Our residents also enjoy a small-town lifestyle and sensibility often associated with communities in the western breadbasket of the Central Valley.
Established in the 1850s as a focal point of commerce and transportation during California's Gold Rush, Suisun City has not forgotten its roots. The community gathers regularly for civic events in Old Town, which is replete with public spaces, promenades and an historic shopping district centered on the picturesque waterfront. City Hall sits on the waterfront's eastern side with its towering dome providing a familiar local landmark. The Suisun Channel is linked by the Suisun Marsh to Suisun and Grizzly bays and providing continuous boat access to both the Sacramento River and the San Francisco Bay.
Suisun City's location led to its rising prominence in the late 19th Century as the trading center tying agricultural areas with major urban centers through shipping and railroad links. In 1869, the Transcontinental Railroad connected to downtown Suisun City, expanding the region's reach across the nation. The city was the bustling hub of agricultural Solano County for more than a century. In the 1960s and 1970s, Suisun City experienced explosive growth as the San Francisco Bay Area's suburban ring extended to rural Solano County. In the 1960s, Interstate 80 was constructed two miles outside the city effectively moving commercial traffic away from rail and water conveyance.
While commuters were attracted to the unique and affordable new housing tracts springing up across the city, Suisun City's "heart" – the downtown waterfront – began to decline. In 1989, the City implemented an aggressive redevelopment program centered on the Old Town Waterfront and Historic Main Street Shopping District. Using the latest in New Urbanism design philosophy, Suisun City has reinvigorated the waterfront, ending its isolation and reintegrating public uses with the City Marina, Public Promenade and Harbor Plaza.
Suisun City is fast becoming the prosperous waterfront community civic leaders have long-envisioned. Main Street is increasingly vibrant with one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants in historically authentic buildings. Everyday, people are re-discovering Suisun City as a thriving destination for business gatherings, family day-trips, and a singular and relaxing waterfront experience. Come see how we are building the 21st Century future while honoring our history.
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