Location
Vacaville is nestled in the rolling hills just west of Sacramento Valley- an hour from San Francisco and approximately 30 minutes from Napa. A significant advantage of doing business in Vacaville is the vast variety of industries and the city’s proximity to major markets. Virtually all of California, from Lake Tahoe to the great coastal redwood forest and beaches of the Pacific Ocean, are within a one -day drive. Vacaville is home to major biotechnology/ pharmaceutical companies such as Genentech, Janssen, Kaiser Permanente and Novartis International. Vacaville sits at the hub of Interstate 80 and Interstate 505.
Tradition
The city celebrates Vacaville Fiesta Days each year, which includes a parade that features the public school marching bands, cars, gymnasts, floats, and other displays. Every December the city holds the Festival of Trees in its indoor ice skating rink along with the Tree Lighting Ceremony known as Merriment on Main where residents of Vacaville gather in downtown to see a 50-foot (15 m) tree illuminated and enjoy festive music, hot chocolate, and horse-drawn carriage rides. Other tourist sites include the Vacaville Premium Outlets and The Nut Tree, which is home to an historic train and carousel for children in addition to a life-size checkerboard, as well as numerous stores and places to eat.
History
The city of Vacaville was founded on December 13, 1851 by William McDaniel on a part of the 1843 Mexican land grant, Rancho Los Putos, purchased from Manuel Cabeza Vaca. The city was a Pony Express stop and was home to many large produce companies and local farms, including The Nut Tree, which flourished due to the Vaca Valley’s rich soil.