California Exposition
Encyclopedia
The California Exposition is an independent state agency established by law and governed primarily by the California Department of Food and Agriculture codes. Governed by an appointed Board of Directors, daily operations are managed by a permanent staff of 100. During the State Fair more than 2,000 temporary employees are hired for the event's duration.
The California Exposition is a self-sufficient operation that receives no government funding but still has an estimated economic impact of more than $250 million on the region.
created the State Agricultural Society to promote California's reputation for farming and industry. An agricultural exposition was organized and held in San Francisco
in 1854, and California Historic Landmark #861 marks the site. Given that travel was difficult in that era, the next several annual expositions were moved around the state, to Sacramento
, San Jose
, Stockton
, and Marysville
.
In 1859 the exposition returned to Sacramento, and it was decided that a permanent site should be found. Capitol Park, a six block site bounded by E, H, 20th and 22nd Streets (38.580°N 121.477°W) was purchased and was home to the state fair for the next fifty years.
Growth in population and attendance forced the purchase of 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) just outside the city limits on Stockton Boulevard (38.552°N 121.452°W), and the first fair was held there in 1909. Continued growth caused that site to be expanded by 75 acres (303,514.5 m²) in 1937. During and after World War II
, from 1942 to 1947, the Fair was suspended and the fairgrounds were occupied by the Army
. During its formative years(1929-1942?), the California Highway Patrol
used some of the State Fair facilities as an unofficial "training academy", later using other state-owned areas in the Sacramento area for training use until the current CHP Academy was opened in 1976.
In 1948 the state purchased a large tract of undeveloped land along the American River
north of downtown Sacramento. Funds were not allocated to begin construction on this land until 1963, and the Fair continued at the Stockton Boulevard grounds until 1967. In 1968 Governor Ronald Reagan
opened the Fair at the "Cal Expo" site, which covers over 350 acres (1.4 km²) at 38.593°N 121.435°W.
In addition to the annual state fair, Cal Expo hosts a number of other events, such as the annual Sacramento County Fair, Christmas Tree Land, and doll, car, and RV shows. The Cal Expo racetrack hosts harness racing meets almost year-round, except for State Fair thoroughbred racing, as well as motorcycle racing and concerts. The racetrack grandstand (The Miller Lite Grandstand) seats 22,000 and was the site of the 1983 Greater Sacramento Billy Graham
Crusade.
Rides and Games are operated by Butler Amusements. Butler Amusements' first year at the state fair was in 2009. Rides and games were operated by RCS Amusements for a number of years before that.
There is a permanent monorail system at the fairgrounds. The storage facility for the monorail trams are located in the northwest corner of the grounds. There are four different trams (Blue, Green, Orange, Red). They are only used during the state fair.
, were considering building a new arena for the basketball team on Cal Expo grounds, replacing the current Kings home, Power Balance Pavilion a few miles away. The Maloof Brothers and Cal Expo officials made assurances that no public money would be used in the building of the arena. However, the plan is now dead.
The California Exposition is a self-sufficient operation that receives no government funding but still has an estimated economic impact of more than $250 million on the region.
History
The California legislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
created the State Agricultural Society to promote California's reputation for farming and industry. An agricultural exposition was organized and held in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
in 1854, and California Historic Landmark #861 marks the site. Given that travel was difficult in that era, the next several annual expositions were moved around the state, to Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, Stockton
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
, and Marysville
Marysville, California
Marysville is the county seat of Yuba County, California, United States. The population was 12,072 at the 2010 census, down from 12,268 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Yuba City Metropolitan Statistical Area, often referred to as the Yuba-Sutter Area after the two counties, Yuba and...
.
In 1859 the exposition returned to Sacramento, and it was decided that a permanent site should be found. Capitol Park, a six block site bounded by E, H, 20th and 22nd Streets (38.580°N 121.477°W) was purchased and was home to the state fair for the next fifty years.
Growth in population and attendance forced the purchase of 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) just outside the city limits on Stockton Boulevard (38.552°N 121.452°W), and the first fair was held there in 1909. Continued growth caused that site to be expanded by 75 acres (303,514.5 m²) in 1937. During and after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, from 1942 to 1947, the Fair was suspended and the fairgrounds were occupied by the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. During its formative years(1929-1942?), the California Highway Patrol
California Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol is a law enforcement agency of the U.S. state of California. The CHP has patrol jurisdiction over all California highways and also acts as the state police....
used some of the State Fair facilities as an unofficial "training academy", later using other state-owned areas in the Sacramento area for training use until the current CHP Academy was opened in 1976.
In 1948 the state purchased a large tract of undeveloped land along the American River
American River
The American River is a California watercourse noted as the site of Sutter's Mill, northwest of Placerville, California, where gold was found in 1848, leading to the California Gold Rush...
north of downtown Sacramento. Funds were not allocated to begin construction on this land until 1963, and the Fair continued at the Stockton Boulevard grounds until 1967. In 1968 Governor Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
opened the Fair at the "Cal Expo" site, which covers over 350 acres (1.4 km²) at 38.593°N 121.435°W.
In addition to the annual state fair, Cal Expo hosts a number of other events, such as the annual Sacramento County Fair, Christmas Tree Land, and doll, car, and RV shows. The Cal Expo racetrack hosts harness racing meets almost year-round, except for State Fair thoroughbred racing, as well as motorcycle racing and concerts. The racetrack grandstand (The Miller Lite Grandstand) seats 22,000 and was the site of the 1983 Greater Sacramento Billy Graham
Billy Graham
William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
Crusade.
Schedule Change
Cal Expo officials announced in Summer 2009 that, beginning with the 2010 State Fair, fair dates will be in late July/early August instead of the previous long-standing late August/early September dates. This change is in response to earlier opening dates of many area schools, colleges and universities. Since a majority of fair visitors are children, teenagers, and young adults, allowing the fair to overlap with school session dates would limit their attendance to evenings and weekends. This plan appears to have resulted in improved fair attendance and revenues.Ride Operations
Rides and Games are operated by Butler Amusements. Butler Amusements' first year at the state fair was in 2009. Rides and games were operated by RCS Amusements for a number of years before that.
Monorail
There is a permanent monorail system at the fairgrounds. The storage facility for the monorail trams are located in the northwest corner of the grounds. There are four different trams (Blue, Green, Orange, Red). They are only used during the state fair.
Possible Basketball Stadium
The Maloof Brothers, owners of the Sacramento KingsSacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, were considering building a new arena for the basketball team on Cal Expo grounds, replacing the current Kings home, Power Balance Pavilion a few miles away. The Maloof Brothers and Cal Expo officials made assurances that no public money would be used in the building of the arena. However, the plan is now dead.