# Elk Grove, California
**Elk Grove** is a city in [Sacramento County, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/sacramento-county-california), about 15 miles south of downtown Sacramento, incorporated on July 1, 2000 as the first California city to incorporate in the 21st century.[1](https://elkgrove.gov/visitors/about-elk-grove) It grew from a Gold Rush-era stage stop into one of the Sacramento region's largest suburbs, with a 2020 Census population of 176,124 and a July 2025 estimate of 185,007.[2](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elkgrovecitycalifornia/PST045225)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Incorporated | July 1, 2000, as a general law city; the first California city of the 21st century[1](https://elkgrove.gov/visitors/about-elk-grove) |
| Population | 176,124 at the April 1, 2020 Census; 185,007 estimated July 1, 2025, a 5.0% increase over the 2020 estimates base[2](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elkgrovecitycalifornia/PST045225) |
| Area | 42.7 square miles[1](https://elkgrove.gov/visitors/about-elk-grove) |
| Median household income | $125,924 (2020-2024, in 2024 dollars), above the California figure of $100,149[2](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elkgrovecitycalifornia/PST045225) |
| Median home value | $630,100 for owner-occupied units (2020-2024); 73.8% owner-occupied housing rate[2](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elkgrovecitycalifornia/PST045225) |
| Schools | Elk Grove Unified School District, the largest in Northern California and fifth largest in the state, with nearly 62,000 students[1](https://elkgrove.gov/visitors/about-elk-grove) |
| Government | Council-manager form; five elected representatives: a citywide-elected mayor serving two-year terms and four councilmembers serving four-year terms[3](https://elkgrove.gov/government/city-government) |
## History
Elk Grove began in 1850 as a hotel and stagecoach stop, opened that year by English immigrant James Watson Hall.[1](https://elkgrove.gov/visitors/about-elk-grove) • [4](https://www.elkgrove.gov/sites/default/files/city-files/City%20Government/City%20Clerk/Resolutions/2024/05-08-24-8-2-2024-069.pdf) Located about 15 miles south of [Sutter's Fort](https://www.edgepedia.org/sutters-fort) in Sacramento, it became a crossroads for business, mail service, and agriculture, and served as a home base for gold miners working nearby communities.[1](https://elkgrove.gov/visitors/about-elk-grove)
[After the Gold Rush](https://www.edgepedia.org/after-the-gold-rush) period, a close-knit community with a rural character took shape around agriculture, including vineyards, dairies, cattle, and row crops.[1](https://elkgrove.gov/visitors/about-elk-grove) Despite its proximity to the state capital, the town remained independent of Sacramento's expansion until the 1980s, when new housing and retail development reached the area.[5](https://elkgrove.gov/sites/default/files/city-files/Departments/Finance/budget/current-proposed-budget.pdf) The city incorporated on July 1, 2000, with a population of approximately 60,000 at incorporation.[1](https://elkgrove.gov/visitors/about-elk-grove) • [5](https://elkgrove.gov/sites/default/files/city-files/Departments/Finance/budget/current-proposed-budget.pdf)
## Growth and population
Elk Grove's growth since incorporation has been rapid. The city counted 75,637 residents in 2001 and 153,015 in 2010 by its own figures; the 2020 Census recorded 176,124.[1](https://elkgrove.gov/visitors/about-elk-grove) • [2](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elkgrovecitycalifornia/PST045225) When it incorporated in July 2000, Elk Grove became the second largest city in Sacramento County.[6](https://www.achp.gov/preserve-america/community/elk-grove-california) The Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate of 185,007 represents 5.0% growth over the 2020 estimates base.[2](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elkgrovecitycalifornia/PST045225)
The population is diverse. In the 2020-2024 [American Community Survey](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-community-survey) period, residents identified as 32.5% White alone, 31.5% Asian alone, 15.8% two or more races, 17.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.7% Black alone; 25.4% of residents were foreign born, and 34.8% of people age five and over spoke a language other than English at home.[2](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elkgrovecitycalifornia/PST045225)
## Government and finance
The city operates under the council-manager form, combining an elected city council with an appointed city manager who serves as chief administrative officer.[3](https://elkgrove.gov/government/city-government) Elk Grove is a general law city with five elected representatives: a mayor elected citywide to two-year terms and four councilmembers elected citywide to four-year terms, each required to reside in one of four council residency districts.[3](https://elkgrove.gov/government/city-government) The council approves the annual budget, the general plan, and major projects, while the city manager administers day-to-day operations.[3](https://elkgrove.gov/government/city-government)
The city's budget has grown with its population. The council adopted a balanced $411 million budget for fiscal year 2025-26, and in June 2026 approved a $491 million budget for 2026-27, an $80 million increase driven largely by affordable housing, land acquisitions, homelessness programs, and developer-led infrastructure.[7](https://elkgrove.gov/news/elk-grove-city-council-adopts-balanced-budget-0) • [8](https://www.sacbee.com/community/elk-grove/article316077174.html) A voter-approved 1-cent sales tax, Measure E, contributed $36 million in the 2026-27 fiscal year, with allocations to a priority projects reserve, the Cosumnes Community Services District, and projects including crime reduction, homelessness services, and traffic maintenance.[8](https://www.sacbee.com/community/elk-grove/article316077174.html)
## Economy and demographics
Agriculture remains part of the local economy, with vineyards, dairies, cattle, and row crops, alongside high technology, professional services, and commercial and retail enterprises.[1](https://elkgrove.gov/visitors/about-elk-grove) The city reports 55,592 households and a median income of $120,958, which it describes as the second largest city in the Sacramento region.[1](https://elkgrove.gov/visitors/about-elk-grove) Census figures for 2020-2024 put median household income at $125,924 and per capita income at $46,347, with 8.0% of residents in poverty.[2](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elkgrovecitycalifornia/PST045225) [Education](https://www.edgepedia.org/education) levels are high: 91.0% of residents age 25 and over had at least a high school education and 38.9% held a bachelor's degree or higher.[2](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elkgrovecitycalifornia/PST045225)
## Education
The Elk Grove Unified School District has served the city and surrounding communities since 1959 and is recognized as the largest school district in [Northern California](https://www.edgepedia.org/northern-california) and the fifth largest in California, with nearly 62,000 students and more than 80 languages and dialects spoken across the district.[1](https://elkgrove.gov/visitors/about-elk-grove) It operates 43 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, and 9 high schools, and reported a 91% graduation rate for the class of 2025.[1](https://elkgrove.gov/visitors/about-elk-grove) Nearby higher education institutions listed by the city include UC Davis, California State University, Sacramento, California Northstate University, and the University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, among others.[1](https://elkgrove.gov/visitors/about-elk-grove)
## Parks, attractions, and recognition
The city reports 107 parks covering 1,000 acres and 43 miles of trails.[1](https://elkgrove.gov/visitors/about-elk-grove) Local natural attractions include Laguna Creek Parkway, a 13-mile waterway with wetlands and trails; the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, 3,000 acres of floodplain along the Pacific Flyway on the city's western edge; and the Cosumnes River Preserve, a riparian habitat along the Cosumnes River on the southern edge.[1](https://elkgrove.gov/visitors/about-elk-grove) Annual events include the Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival each October, which became the official California weigh-off site for a national giant pumpkin contest in 1998, and the Strauss Festival at Elk Grove Regional Park in late July.[1](https://elkgrove.gov/visitors/about-elk-grove)
In 2026, Livability named Elk Grove the best place to live in California and the sixth best city in the [Western United States](https://www.edgepedia.org/western-united-states), citing quality of life factors including the city's green space.[9](https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/elk-grove-best-place-to-live-california-study/)
## References
1. [About Elk Grove, City of Elk Grove](https://elkgrove.gov/visitors/about-elk-grove)
2. [U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Elk Grove city, California](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elkgrovecitycalifornia/PST045225)
3. [City Government, City of Elk Grove](https://elkgrove.gov/government/city-government)
4. [Resolution No. 2024-069, City of Elk Grove City Clerk](https://www.elkgrove.gov/sites/default/files/city-files/City%20Government/City%20Clerk/Resolutions/2024/05-08-24-8-2-2024-069.pdf)
5. [Community Profile 2025-2026, City of Elk Grove Proposed Budget](https://elkgrove.gov/sites/default/files/city-files/Departments/Finance/budget/current-proposed-budget.pdf)
6. [Elk Grove, California, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation](https://www.achp.gov/preserve-america/community/elk-grove-california)
7. [Elk Grove City Council Adopts Balanced Budget, City of Elk Grove](https://elkgrove.gov/news/elk-grove-city-council-adopts-balanced-budget-0)
8. [Elk Grove City Council approves $491M budget for next fiscal year, The Sacramento Bee](https://www.sacbee.com/community/elk-grove/article316077174.html)
9. [Elk Grove named best place to live in California and among best in West, study shows, CBS Sacramento](https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/elk-grove-best-place-to-live-california-study/)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Places and geography › Settlements and neighborhoods › Cities and towns › Cities, towns, and villages of the Americas › Cities and towns on the Pacific Coast › Cities and towns in Northern California*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license