Here at the Visit Vacaville, we like to inform tourists and our local community about local happenings, upcoming events, and where they can find the outlet malls (hint: its across the freeway from the Nut Tree Plaza). From time to time, it’s important to look back at our towns proud history and explore some important events that shaped the Vacaville you see today. Here. We. Go.
1. Juan Manuel Vaca. This guy is the reason for our towns name. Juan came to California from New Mexico in 1842. He and a friend applied for a ten-league land grant (about 4,500 acres) from Mexico called Lihuaytos. Shortly after obtaining his land, he sold an English league of land to a William McDonald, with a provision being that one square mile was to be named “Vacaville”. Little did Vaca know that he was selling 9 square miles, instead of just one (Vaca could read little English and signed anyways).
Juan Miguel Vaca
2. Electric Car Capital of the United States. Vacaville has the distinction of having the most electric vehicles per capita than any other place in the US. Our town has more 45 electric vehicle charging points distributed around town which makes it a strong candidate for the most “electrifying city” in the country. Solano County even has a Electric Vehicle incentive program which offers up to 6,000 towards a lease or purchase of an electric car!
3. Guess who visited the Nut Tree? Back in the Nut Tree’s heyday, we had quite a few celebrities visit our grounds. You might have heard of: President Ronald Reagan, President Richard Nixon, Queen Elizabeth II, Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby. Pretty amazing.
President Ronald Reagan riding a choo-choo train
4. We raise NFL stars. When you think football, Vacaville may not be the first city that comes to mind, but many of our previous residents are now professional football players. Jarret Bush played at Will C. Wood High School and is now a cornerback for the Green Bay Packers (did someone say Superbowl Champion?). Other players include Xzavie Jackson (ex-defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals) and Kyle DeVan (offensive guard for the Tennessee Titans).
Superbowl Champion Jarret Bush
5. We have our Vacaville Museum. In the exhibit is a dress worn by 12 year old Sallie Fox on her journey from Iowa to California. While wearing this apron, Sallie was wounded by an arrow during a Mojave Indian attack in August of 1858. Don’t worry, she survived to tell the tale. For more on the Vacaville museum check out my review here.
Visit Vacaville! 