Sacramento is a city with several nicknames. Whether you call it Sactown, The Big Tomato, River City, or the City of Trees, it would be a wonderful place to call home. Sacramento offers pleasant weather, plenty to see and do many job opportunities, and a thriving and diverse LGBT community. In fact, with a final score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign's 2019 Municipality Index Scorecard, Sacramento is a wonderful and welcoming community for visitors and residents alike and would be the perfect place to begin your next new chapter.
A Look at Sacramento’s History
Sacramento began its modern-day story in the mid-1800s when in 1839, a settler named John Sutter arrived on the shore of the American River where it met with the Sacramento River. Promised a Mexican land grant, he and his landing party founded Sutter’s Fort. The settlement eventually grew and became permanent, attracting other businessmen to the area who were also looking for opportunities. Sacramento is one of the state’s oldest communities, and since its founding grew steadily - first as an agricultural center and a refuge for American pioneers, and later as a gold rush town. Following the gold rush, and profiting from the mining trade established there, Sacramento continues to grow until it eventually became the western hub of the Pony Express and the hub for the first California railroad. Since that time, Sacramento has grown steadily, and today it is the capital of California and continues to be a center of the region’s agricultural production. The city also has many other industries and also a great deal of arts and culture in addition to several institutions of higher education. It is known for hosting several festivals and for being close to many areas of natural beauty for visitors and residents alike to enjoy. In Sacramento, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
A Few Fun Facts About Sacramento
Find more fun facts about Sacramento here.
The LGBTQ Community in Sacramento
Sacramento has a thriving and diverse LGBTQ community that is well supported by resources and community centers throughout the city, including:
LGBTQ Community Center Sacramento
The LGBTQ Community Center of Sacramento has been serving Sacramento as a resource and gathering place for the LGBTQ community since the 1970s. The Center focuses on outreach to the entire LGBTQ community through a wide variety of support, network, and advocacy groups, educational opportunities, resources, community events, and more.
PFLAG Sacramento is Sacramento’s local chapter of the national PFLAG organization. PFLAG is the largest grassroots organization of its kind in the country. With more than 500 chapters with more than 200,000 members in the United States. PFLAG plays an important and vital role in providing advocacy, support, and resources to the LGBTQ community. PFLAG Sacramento offers monthly support meetings and other events, as well as resources, advocacy and networking opportunities for the LGBTQ community, friends, and allies.
Sacramento Weather
Sacramento typically experiences long, dry and fairly hot summers and cool damp winters that often include fog. It receives an average of 20 inches of rain per year, and 0 inches of snow. Residents will experience more sunny days than the rest of the country on average – 269 sunny days per year, in fact. In the summer, the July high is typically around 93°, and in January the average winter low is 39°. Spring and fall are typically pleasant and mild.
The Best Events in Sacramento
Sacramento Pride is typically held in late June, and is Sacramento’s annual celebration of all that the LGBTQ community adds to the city. For more than 40 years, the city has been celebrating its LGBTQ community with parades, networking opportunities, parties, educational events, and more. You won’t want to miss your chance to join in the fun!
The Sacramento Rainbow Festival is another of Sacramento’s annual LGBTQ pride events, typically held over Labor Day weekend. Held in the popular Midtown area of the city, the celebration includes music, festivities, booths, performances, and more.
The Sacramento Valley AIDS Run/Walk is an annual event held each year in September to raise money for the LGBTQ community, and specifically for the research and treatment of AIDS/HIV. It’s a great chance to have fun, get some exercise, meet friends, and raise money for a great cause.
A Look at Sacramento’s Neighborhoods
Sacramento is generally a very warm and welcoming community, and if you are an LGBTQ individual or family looking to purchase a home, there are plenty of neighborhoods that you might enjoy, depending upon your lifestyle needs and preferences. One neighborhood, in particular, that is very popular with the LGBTQ community, however, is Midtown. Midtown is home to Lavender Heights, which is a popular area of town where various gay-owned restaurants, bars, clubs, cafes, shops, and other businesses are located. There are frequent LGBTQ events and festivities in the area, and always plenty to see and do. The current median list price of homes for sale in Midtown is approximately $772,000.
Arts and Entertainment
The Crocker Art Museum, open since 1871, is the longest continuously operating art museum in western America, with works dating from the Gold Rush through the present day. The museum also has one of the largest collections of international ceramics in the United States, and an extensive selection of artwork from Asia, Africa, and Europe as well. It’s a wonderful place to spend an afternoon wandering and feeling inspired.
The B Street Theatre is a Sacramento icon, and you won’t want to miss your chance to see a show. The mission of B Street is to promote both education and literacy, which is done through creating and performing a wide variety of high-quality theatre for audiences that keep returning again and again for more. The Sacramento News named B Street as the ‘Best Live Theatre’ for fourteen years in a row!
Parks and Recreation
The Sacramento Varsity Gay League considers itself to be the original LGBTQ+ Recreational Sports Organization. Since 2007, it has been offering year-round activities and recreational sporting opportunities to the LGBTQ community, friends, and allies in the Sacramento community. Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience. It’s a great way to meet new friends, have fun, and get some exercise, all at the same time.
The American River Bicycle Trail
The American River Bicycle Trail extends throughout the city and offers beautiful vistas and views for bikers, hikers, and walkers alike. As the trail runs through a nature sanctuary, visitors are certain to have the opportunity to relax, reset, and enjoy nature’s beauty on a nice Sacramento afternoon.
Sacramento Nightlife
Faces is a very popular LGBTQ nightclub in Sacramento, known for is three lively dance rooms, 15 bars, a VIP lounge, and even an outdoor pool. It often has themed events, excellent DJs, and provides a great opportunity to meet new friends or enjoy a night out with your favorites.
The Mercantile Saloon is a chill gay bar that offers regular happy hours, a nice and spacious outdoor patio, a pool table, good music, and the opportunity to relax with old friends or make new ones.
Contact a Sacramento Realtor Today
If you’re ready to make Sacramento the next place you call home, there’s no time like today to get started searching for the perfect place in a neighborhood that you’ll love being a part of. Contact a Sacramento gay realtor today for a free, no-obligation consultation!
