Town History

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  1. Overview
  2. Drinking in Davis
  3. Random Historical Bits & Davis Trivia
  4. Other Resources

Overview

(see also Davis Timeline)

The site of "our town" lies north of the original streambed of Putah Creek (Rio de los Putas), which became the dividing line between Yolo and Solano counties in 1850. Formerly the home of a group of Patwin Indians, the immediate Davis area presented an abundance of plants and wildlife, sustaining both animal and human inhabitants before hunters, trappers, and the first pioneer agriculturalists brought drastic changes. During the early 1850s, livestock production and cultivation of the rich alluvial plains in the West Sacramento Valley were profitable enterprises, and a number of American and European immigrants sought title to portions of Rancho Laguna de Santo Calle, the unconfirmed Mexican land grant upon which most of the City of Davis and the University of California campus are located.

Prominent among the early settlers were Jerome C. and Mary A. Davis, the son-in-law and daughter of Joseph B. Chiles, one of California's trail-blazing pioneers, whose cattle interests in the area began in 1849. The Davises' holdings were expanded to include 12,000 acres by 1858; however, floods, drought, and disease, coupled with high interest rates, the Civil War and inadequate transportation facilities, caused financial hardship for California ranchers. By 1868, the Davis' moved to Sacramento after selling some 7,000 acres of the Davis ranch for $80,000 to developers of the California Pacific Railroad.

Directors of this pioneer line surveyed a triangular railroad junction, which would play a major role in the future development of the town that was laid out around it. Residential and business construction was spurred when daily railroad service from Vallejo to Davis Junction was opened on August 24, 1868. The official town [wikipedia]plat, covering a 32-block area that fronted on Putah Creek, was recorded November 24, 1868. By 1870, Davisville citizens numbered 400. Land was donated for a schoolhouse and churches; street trees were planted; a boomtown prosperity existed until subsequent extension of the railroad reduced the local volume of trade. During the later 19th century, the town's economy was chiefly related to agricultural development in the surrounding area.

Only a few far-sighted citizens dared hope, in 1905, that the newly established University State Farm might be located near Davisville, but a determined seven-man committee of the first Chamber of Commerce succeeded where similar committees in some seventy communities elsewhere in California failed. Many local citizens subscribed funds for purchase of an option on the 779-acre Sparks-Hamel-Wright tract that was offered to the site selection committee, plus the option on water rights for irrigating purposes. When their offer was accepted on April 6, 1906, Davisites celebrated with flag flying and fireworks. The "ville" was soon dropped from the town's name, and the women's improvement club quickly organized Cleanup Days, so as to make the community more presentable for its new role as a university town.

Construction of the first University Farm buildings commenced in mid-1907, and the first instruction began in October, 1908, with fifteen non-degree students in attendance. Short courses for farmers were also an important function of the new teaching and research institution that would remain under the administrative control of the College of Agriculture at UC Berkeley until 1952.

The City of Davis was incorporated in 1917 under a commission form of government. Fire, protection, sewers, sidewalks, and street paving were high on the list of badly needed civic improvements. In 1928, the mayor-council form of government was adopted. In 1950, the first city administrator was appointed, and in 1965, the position of city manager was instituted. A planning commission was established in 1925, and the city's first General Plan was adopted in 1927.

Institution of a four-year degree program at the University Farm in 1933 resulted in unprecedented growth for both the campus and the community, and the first long-range development plans were initiated. The additions of the School of Veterinary Medicine in 1949, and the College of Letters and Science in 1951, were impetus for further growth and development, which was augmented after 1959, when the UC Regents determined that Davis was to become a general campus of the University of California, embracing all major academic disciplines. Subsequently established were the College of Engineering in 1962, the School of Law in 1964, the School of Medicine in 1968, and the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento in 1973. Davis is now the largest of UC's ten campuses, at 5,300 acres.

Davis has always been a popular place to bicycle, but in the early 1960s Chancellor Emil Mrak and local residents took it upon themselves to make Davis a fabulous place for bicycling. Not only the best city in the country, but the best city possible. This led to a series of innovations, including wide, separate bike paths on campus (early 1960s) and bike lanes in the city (1967). The bikeway system quickly became fully institutionalized, and all new subdivisions since the late 1960s have been required to add to the existing system. This has given Davis one of its greatest claims to fame, often being referred to as "The Bicycle Capital of the U.S" and the only city to receive the [WWW]League of American Bicyclists' "Platinum" award. For over 50 years, bicycling has been a major means of local transportation. A slide presentation on the history of bicycle policy in Davis can be seen on the Bicycle History Presentation page.

In the late 1970s, Davis gained national recognition for community efforts in energy conservation. Several Davis builders have pioneered energy-efficient building and subdivision design. In addition, the city building code has since 1975 included mandatory energy conservation standards which cover all new construction.

Over the years, Davis has been in the national media, sometimes for good reasons, see Outside Magazine Article, and sometimes as the butt of jokes, see People's Republic of Davis. But many say any press is good press.

Drinking in Davis

Prior to prohibition, the Davisville branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union tried three times to ban the sale of alcohol in town. They lost two town votes in 1874 and 1907, but finally prevailed in 1911 by getting the state legislature to enact a ban within a one-mile radius of campus, which was soon expanded to three miles. This ban sought to prevent the corruption of young farming students at the then-fledgling university, and it stood all the way up until 1979, when it was finally lifted by the legislature almost fifty years after the repeal of prohibition. Davis' temperance statute meant if you wanted to buy wine for a party, or booze for any other occasion (including destroying your liver), you had to go beyond this three-mile circle. For many years the closest liquor store was woodlandFrenchy's located on the northwest corner of the lot where the woodlandCounty Fair Mall is located. Frenchy's was owned by long time Woodland resident George Carrere. In more recent times davisites could drive to chiles road, east of Mace and shop at either Jakes or L and M liquor stores. Incidentally, fireworks sales were also not allowed in Davis, and every July, a fireworks stand was set up next to the aforementioned liquor store in Woodland, and this was where Davisites joined Woodland folks in getting a bang for their buck.

Through the 80's and 90's, however, Davis stood as one of the few municipalities within California that allowed the public consumption of alcohol. This freedom finally came to an end in June of 2002 when the city council passed an Open Container Ordinance, prohibiting the possession or consumption of alcohol in public right-of-way areas. Originally set to sunset after two years, the ordinance was permanently renewed in 2004, relegating games of Sloshball in Chestnut Park to the history books for good.

The southwest corner of 2nd & G seems to have housed a bar or saloon of some sort for much of Davis history. At present, it is the site of Froggy's, which was formerly known as The Paragon. Other bars/saloons on G Street have included The Club (located in the portion of the building that was recently added to Woodstock's Pizza), and the Antique Bizarre (a popular watering hole located on the first floor of the Hotel Aggie/Terminal Hotel, in the spot last occupied by La Esperanza). Other places to wet your whistle include and included Mr. B's (popular bar owned by the Belenis family, longtime restaurateurs on the Davis scene), Soga's (which replaced Mr. B's, when it was in its final location), A.J. Bump's, G Street Pub (which replaced A.J. Bump's), Sudwerk, and Cantina del Cabo. Since the liquor ban was lifted, most groceries, many sit-down restaurants, and the like now offer at minimum beer and wine, and sometimes stronger spirits.

Random Historical Bits & Davis Trivia

(see also Departed Businesses)

Other Resources
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