Spanish
Sacramento
California (CA)est. 1849pop. 526,384/sak-ruh-MEN-toh/
The meaning
“Sacrament”
How it got the name
Spanish explorer Gabriel Moraga named the river Rio del Santisimo Sacramento in 1808, moved by the valley's beauty. The Gold Rush town that grew at Sutter's landing took the river's name and became the state capital within a decade.
Former names
- Sutter's Fort / New Helvetia
- Sacramento