City of Dixon | |
|---|---|
 Aerial view of Dixon | |
 Seal | |
| Nicknames: | |
 Location of Dixon in Solano County, California | |
  City of Dixon Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:38°26′57″N121°49′37″W / 38.44917°N 121.82694°W /38.44917; -121.82694 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Solano |
| Incorporated | March 30, 1878[4] |
| Named after | Thomas Dickson |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Steve Bird[5] |
| • City manager | Jim Lindley[6] |
| • State senator | Christopher Cabaldon (D)[7] |
| • Assemblymember | Lori Wilson (D)[7] |
| • U. S. rep. | Mike Thompson (D)[8] |
| Area | |
• Total | 7.20 sq mi (18.64 km2) |
| • Land | 7.10 sq mi (18.39 km2) |
| • Water | 0.097 sq mi (0.25 km2) 1.34% |
| Elevation | 62 ft (19 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 18,988 |
| • Density | 2,674.2/sq mi (1,032.53/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code | 95620 |
| Area code | 707, 369 |
| FIPS code | 06-19402 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 1655973,2410343 |
| Website | www |
Dixon is a city in northeasternSolano County,California,United States, located 23 miles (37 km) from the state capital,Sacramento. It has ahot-summer mediterranean climate on theKöppen climate classification scale. Its population was 18,988 at the2020 United States census.[11] Other nearby cities includeVacaville,Winters,Davis,Woodland, andRio Vista.
The first semi-permanent European settlement to develop in the Dixon area emerged during the California Gold Rush of the mid-19th century when the community of Silveyville was founded in 1852 by Elijah Silvey[12] as a halfway point between the Pacific coast and the rich gold fields of Sacramento along a route commonly traveled by miners. In 1868, Central Pacific railroad came through the area and missed Silveyville by a few miles.[13] As a result, local leaders decided to physically relocate Silveyville closer to the tracks in order to enjoy the benefits of commerce and travel. One of the first buildings that still stands in Dixon from the 1871 move is the Dixon Methodist Church located at 209 N. Jefferson Street.[14]
Originally, the city was named "Dicksville" after Thomas Dickson who donated 10 acres of his land for the construction of a railroad depot following the completion of the tracks and subsequent relocation of Silveyville to the now-Dixon area.[12] However, when the first rail shipment of merchandise arrived from San Francisco in 1872, it was mistakenly addressed to "Dixon"—a name that has been used since, mainly out of simplicity.[12][14] Up to now, the urban landscape of the town can be seen to have developed mostly in between the railroad tracks and Interstate-80.
As of 2024 the Dixon city council consists of Steve Bird, Mayor, Jim Ernest, representing District 1, Thom Bogue, representing District 2, Kevin Johnson, representing District 3, and Don Hendershot, representing District 4.[15]
The city operates a municipal police and fire department, and water system & wastewater treatment plant.
Dixon is located at38°26′57″N121°49′37″W / 38.44917°N 121.82694°W /38.44917; -121.82694 (38.449108, -121.826872).[16]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.2 square miles (19 km2), of which, 7.1 square miles (18 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (1.34%) is water.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 317 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,082 | — | |
| 1900 | 788 | −27.2% | |
| 1910 | 827 | 4.9% | |
| 1920 | 926 | 12.0% | |
| 1930 | 1,000 | 8.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,108 | 10.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,714 | 54.7% | |
| 1960 | 2,970 | 73.3% | |
| 1970 | 4,432 | 49.2% | |
| 1980 | 7,541 | 70.1% | |
| 1990 | 10,401 | 37.9% | |
| 2000 | 16,103 | 54.8% | |
| 2010 | 18,351 | 14.0% | |
| 2020 | 18,988 | 3.5% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 20,296 | [17] | 6.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[18] | |||
The2020 United States census reported that Dixon had a population of 18,988. The population density was 2,674.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,032.6/km2). The racial makeup of Dixon was 51.5%White, 3.1%African American, 1.6%Native American, 3.6%Asian, 0.5%Pacific Islander, 23.1% fromother races, and 16.6% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 43.7% of the population.[19]
The census reported that 100.0% of the population lived in households, 4 people (0.0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.[19]
There were 6,374 households, out of which 40.0% included children under the age of 18, 56.1% were married-couple households, 7.5% werecohabiting couple households, 22.9% had a female householder with no partner present, and 13.6% had a male householder with no partner present. 17.5% of households were one person, and 8.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.98.[19] There were 4,846families (76.0% of all households).[20]
The age distribution was 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% aged 18 to 24, 27.1% aged 25 to 44, 25.4% aged 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males.[19]
There were 6,554 housing units at an average density of 923.1 units per square mile (356.4 units/km2), of which 6,374 (97.3%) were occupied. Of these, 65.9% were owner-occupied, and 34.1% were occupied by renters.[19]
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 17.2% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 67.2% spoke only English at home, 28.2% spokeSpanish, 2.6% spoke otherIndo-European languages, and 2.0% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 83.9% were high school graduates and 24.3% had a bachelor's degree.[21]
The median household income was $98,798, and theper capita income was $42,163. About 7.2% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line.[22]
The2010 United States census[23] reported that Dixon had a population of 18,351. The population density was 2,587.7 inhabitants per square mile (999.1/km2). The racial makeup of Dixon was 13,023 (71.0%)White, 562 (3.1%)African American, 184 (1.0%)Native American, 671 (3.7%)Asian, 58 (0.3%)Pacific Islander, 2,838 (15.5%) fromother races, and 1,015 (5.5%) from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 7,426 persons (40.5%).
The Census reported that 100% of the population lived in households.
There were 5,856 households, out of which 2,773 (47.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,550 (60.6%) wereopposite-sex married couples living together, 790 (13.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 339 (5.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 327 (5.6%)unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 26 (0.4%)same-sex married couples or partnerships. 867 households (14.8%) were made up of individuals, and 301 (5.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.13. There were 4,679families (79.9% of all households); the average family size was 3.47.
The population was spread out, with 5,349 people (29.1%) under the age of 18, 1,816 people (9.9%) aged 18 to 24, 5,026 people (27.4%) aged 25 to 44, 4,608 people (25.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,552 people (8.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.
There were 6,172 housing units at an average density of 870.3 units per square mile (336.0 units/km2), of which 3,902 (66.6%) were owner-occupied, and 1,954 (33.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.2%. 12,149 people (66.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 6,201 people (33.8%) lived in rental housing units.
TheJackson Fay Brown House and the DixonCarnegie library are on theNational Register of Historic Places.[24]
As of 2014[update], Dixon residents Matt and Mark Cooley, owners of Cool Patch Pumpkins, hold theGuinness World Record for "largest maze, temporary corn/crop maze".[25][26] The maze measured 163,853.83 m2 or 40.489 acres.[27] In 2012, Cool Patch Pumpkins broke its own record with a 53-acre maze.[28] In 2014 Cool Patch Pumpkins again broke its own record by growing a 60-acre maze.[29]
AMilk Farm Restaurant sign, measuring 100 feet tall,[3] was built in May 1963[3] and still stands today at the intersection of State Route 113 and Interstate 80.[30]
Dixon is home to the Dixon May Fair, California's oldest fair.[31][32] The fair began in 1885 as a May Day celebration and predates the Solano County Fair which first occurred in 1949.[33] A stage on the fairground was named in honor of country singer Jon Pardi,[34] who grew up in Dixon.
Interstate 80 andCalifornia State Route 113 pass through Dixon.
TheUnion Pacific Railroad mainline between Oakland and Sacramento also passes through Dixon.[2] This line was owned bySouthern Pacific Railroad until its merger with Union Pacific on September 11, 1996. The track was constructed in 1868 by theCalifornia Pacific Railroad.
AmtrakCapitol Corridor also passes through Dixon over the UP mainline but the nearest station stops are atDavis andFairfield–Vacaville. Amtrak'sCalifornia Zephyr andCoast Starlight also pass through Dixon without stopping.[2]
In 2006, the City of Dixon finished construction on a train station near downtown Dixon.[2] However, there are currently no scheduled stops at the station. The building has, for the time being, been converted to the city's Chamber of Commerce.[2]
The Dixon Readi-Ride is adial-a-ride shuttlebus service. The Dixon Park & Ride[41] servesFairfield and Suisun Transit route 30 which runs betweenFairfield Transportation Center anddowntown Sacramento.[42] The Dixon Readi-Ride adial-a-ride service also stops here.[43] It has 89 parking spots. The bus service runs approximately 10 hours per day on route 30.[44]
According to the city's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,[45] the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dixon Unified School District | 346 |
| 2 | Walmart | 300 |
| 3 | Cardinal Health | 250 |
| 4 | Basalite | 193 |
| 5 | Altec Industries | 190 |
| 6 | Dixon Canning (Campbell's) | 182 |
| 7 | Superior Packing | 164 |
| 8 | City of Dixon | 156 |
| 9 | Gold Star Foods | 99 |
| 10 | First Northern Bank | 74 |
Dixon was the home of theGymboree Corporation's only distribution center prior to the bankruptcy and closing of the company in 2019.[46]
TheDixon Independent Voice was founded in 1993 (first asThe Dixon Newspaper)[47] and is the main paper of circulation today.[48] It is published weekly and is owned by Messenger Publishing Group.[49] TheDixon Tribune newspaper was founded November 14, 1874,[12] but ceased publication after its January 31, 2024 issue.[50]
Historically, theVoice of America ran ashortwave transmitter site that was formerly owned and operated byNBC. NBC built the site in 1944,[51] and it broadcast under the call signs KNBA, KNBH, KNBI, KNBC, and KNBX.[52] The station was closed between September 2, 1979, and October 1, 1983, and briefly reopened for Spanish language broadcasting until 1988.[52][53] The station served as a relay to both NBC International programming overseas, and as a relay ofKNBR and its programming overseas, mostly the Pacific area.[54] There is also a military transmission site, theDixon Naval Radio Transmitter Facility.[55]
Dixon is served by theDixon Unified School District, and also has a few private educational institutions.
High schools
Middle schools
Elementary schools
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