Cattle is raised, and food processing is a major industry.
Aerospace and electronics industries contribute greatly to the city's economy and development. It lies on a part of a Mexican land grant that belonged to John A. Sutter, who in 1839 began a settlement called New Helvetia and in 1840 built a fort. Sacramento was made the state capital in 1854. The city annexed adjacent North Sacramento in 1965. It is the seat of California State Univ. at Sacramento.