Ready Reference Files

California Capitals

In the early days of California, the official seat of government was Loreto, in Lower California, and both Alta and Lower California were administered from there as Las Californias. When Alta California, as the upper portion of the region was called, gained in importance, the capitol was moved to Monterey in 1777. It remained the seat of government until 1849, when the capital was shifted to San Jose. While here, voters ratified statehood, and California was admitted into the United States in 1850. San Jose became the site of the first meeting of the state's governing body, known as the Legislature of 1,000 Drinks. In 1851, the state legislature accepted an offer to create a capital at Vallejo. When facilities there were found to be insufficient, the capital was moved to Benicia in 1853. The accommodations in Benicia were also deemed inadequate, so, in 1854, Sacramento became the permanent seat of government for the state of California.

• Monterey: 1777-1849. (Capital under Spanish and Mexican rule.)
• San Jose: 1849-1851. Statehood voted here.
• Vallejo: 1851-1853.
• Benicia: 1853-1854.
• Sacramento: 1854--present

Sources:
A Companion to California. Hart, James D. University of California Press, 1987.
California's Legislature. Wilson, E. Dotson. California State Assembly, 1994.

Verified by: GM, 3/98

Disclaimer:
While the Library has verified the information presented in these files in what it considers to be reliable and authoritative sources, it cannot take responsibility for nor guarantee the accuracy of the information presented.