Glossary · Local Life & Customs
The City of Trees
Sacramento’s long-time nickname, from its large urban forest; in 1978 it was the first US city designated a City of Trees by the Arbor Day Foundation.
Sacramento has long been known as the City of Trees for its abundant urban forest. It was not always so: the settlement was first called the City of Plains because it had so few trees. Cottonwoods were planted soon afterward, eucalyptus was imported to dry out swampland, and locust, willow, elm, palm and fruit trees followed along the streets.
The main street tree today is the London plane. A water tower once carried the slogan City of Trees until 2017, when it was repainted with the words America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital.
Sources
Questions people ask
Why is Sacramento called the City of Trees?
Because of its dense urban forest. Sacramento was designated a City of Trees by the Arbor Day Foundation in 1978, the first US city to receive that designation.
Was Sacramento always full of trees?
No. It was at first called the City of Plains because of the lack of trees; cottonwoods, eucalyptus and many other species were planted later.
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