Midtown Sacramento

{{short description|Historical district in Sacramento}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

'''Midtown Sacramento''' (commonly known as '''Midtown''') is a historical district and neighborhood just east of Downtown Sacramento. Officially, Midtown's borders are R Street on the South, J Street on the North, 16th Street on the West and 30th Street on the East.<ref name=Sacramento_Neighborhoods>{{cite map|publisher=City of Sacramento |title=City of Sacramento: Neighborhoods |url=http://www.cityofsacramento.org/gis/documents/Neighborhoods_E.pdf |edition=November 2010 |access-date=2012-02-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028214914/http://www.cityofsacramento.org/gis/documents/Neighborhoods_E.pdf |archive-date=2013-10-28 }}</ref> However, the streets in Sacramento's original "grid" that are east of 16th Street cover the area commonly called "Midtown". This more general definition covers an area bounded by Broadway on the South, C street and the Southern Pacific rail lines on the North, 16th Street on the West and Alhambra Boulevard on the East.

It is a largely residential community with tree-lined streets and old Victorians. It is also the center of Sacramento's art, music, and cultural scene. Boutiques, bars, clubs, upscale, and casual dining abound. Midtown has the only winery located in the greater Sacramento urban area.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.58degrees.com/ | title=58 Degrees & Holding Company - Midtown Sacramento | access-date=August 27, 2012}}</ref> Midtown hosts an art walk on the second Saturday of each month which attracts thousands of metropolitan residents.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://sacramento.downtowngrid.com/directory/view/entry/20608 | title=Second Saturday Art Walk - 2nd Saturday - sacramento 95814|website=Sacramento.downtowngrid.com | access-date=August 27, 2012}}</ref> A large historic Asian community resides from S Street south to Broadway with a higher concentration between 3rd Street and 5th Streets, J Street and I Streets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yeefow.com/ |title=Sacramento's Chinatown Mall - Yee Fow is Sacramento's Second City |access-date=August 27, 2012 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208001148/http://www.yeefow.com/ |archive-date=February 8, 2011 }}</ref>

The Midtown community is diverse in terms of race and income brackets. Many legislators choose to live in various spots in Midtown when the California legislature is in session. Increasing in-fill developments consisting largely of upscale lofts have priced out some residents. Historic sites such as Sutter's Fort, the first European settlement in Sacramento, are located in Midtown. Midtown is known for being pedestrian-friendly and bike-friendly with continuous marked bike-lanes throughout the neighborhood and a bike path connecting to the American River Parkway which extends to Folsom. Public transit consists of Sacramento Regional Transit District light-rail lines running down R Street connecting the neighborhood to the metropolitan area and bus lines serving the central city area. A train station is expected to be constructed for Altamont Corridor Express and ''Gold Runner'' serviced by 2023.<ref name=CatchAmtrak>{{cite news |last1=Bizjak |first1=Tony |title=Catch an Amtrak toward L.A. from midtown Sacramento? Train officials propose new service. |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/transportation/article177028481.html |access-date=10 May 2020 |agency=Sacramento Bee |date=11 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Valley Rail Sacramento Extension Project Draft Environmental Impact Report |url=https://acerail.com/wp-content/uploads/Valley-Rail-Sacramento-Extention-Project-DEIR-Vol-I-ES-to-3.5a.pdf |website=ACE |publisher=AECOM |access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref>

== Lavender Heights == thumb|233x233px|The Sacramento LGBT Community Center (formerly the Lambda Center), located in the Lavender Heights district. thumb|Lavender Heights Street Sign at 20th and J streets Lavender Heights, Sacramento's gay and lesbian district, is centrally located on K Street and 20th Street.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/video/4023560-wild-elk-relocated-by-helicopter/|title=Wild Elk Relocated By Helicopter|website=Sacramento.cbslocal.com|access-date=6 February 2019}}</ref><ref name="Clausen">Michael Andrew Claussen, ''Lavender Heights: the emerging gay community in downtown Sacramento, California'', California State University, 1998.</ref><ref>Melanie Noel Light, "What’s New & What’s HappeningUnder the Lavender Heights Rainbow", Sacramento Visitors and Convention Bureau.</ref> The area owes its name to the high number of gay-owned homes and businesses residing there.<ref name="Clausen" /><ref name="gaytravel">{{Cite web |url=http://gaytravel.about.com/od/placestogo/p/Gay_Sacramento.htm |title=A Guide to Gay Sacramento - Gay Travel in Sacramento |author=Andrew Collins|website=Gaytravel.about.com |access-date=12 May 2008}}</ref>

Lavender Heights is a name given to the hub of Sacramento's gay and lesbian community with many gay bars and restaurants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sacramento.gaycities.com/|title=Gay Sacramento - A Capital Idea|date=2013-11-18|website=Sacramento.gaycities.com|access-date=2013-12-03}}</ref><ref>Lanie Dills, Lynn West, ''Great gay & lesbian places to live: "the official guide"'', 1995, {{ISBN|0-916744-03-5}}, {{ISBN|978-0-916744-03-8}}.</ref> It is considered Sacramento's equivalent to The Castro (San Francisco), West Hollywood (Los Angeles), Hillcrest (San Diego), and Dupont Circle (Washington D.C.) as the city's LGBT district.<ref>Joyce Krieg, ''Slip Cue: A Talk Radio Mystery'', Macmillan, 2004, {{ISBN|0-312-32736-6}}, {{ISBN|978-0-312-32736-1}}.</ref><ref>Michael Nalepa, Linda Cabasin, Erica Duecy editors, ''Fodor's 2010 Northern California: With Napa, Sonoma, Yosemite, San Francisco & Lake Tahoe'', page 468-9, Random House, Inc., 2010, {{ISBN|1-4000-0900-6}}, {{ISBN|978-1-4000-0900-8}}.</ref> Community resources for the LGBT community in the area include the Sacramento LGBT Community Center (formerly the Lambda Center) and the Lavender Library.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lavenderlibrary.org/|title=Lavender Library, Archives, and Cultural Exchange (LLACE)|author=Lavender Library, Archives, and Cultural Exchange (LLACE)|date=2013-11-29|website=Lavenderlibrary.org|access-date=2013-12-03}}</ref> Most of the gay bars in Sacramento are located in the Lavender Heights area.<ref name="gaytravel2">{{cite web|url=http://gaytravel.about.com/od/placestogo/p/Gay_Sacramento.htm|title=A Guide to Gay Sacramento - Gay Travel in Sacramento|author=Andrew Collins|access-date=12 May 2008}}</ref><ref>Sara Benson, ''Lonely Planet California'', page 424-6, {{ISBN|1-74104-739-0}}, {{ISBN|978-1-74104-739-4}}.</ref> Hate crimes and gay bashing have been an issue since the early 1990s in the area.<ref>"Gays Will Patrol For Bashers, City Police Welcome 'Lavender Angels'", ''Sacramento Bee'', April 19, 1991, Page B3.</ref> A wave of "religious refugees" including "Slavic evangelicals" has added to the tensions; many were drawn to immigrate by Sacramento evangelical churches who sponsored them including the Assemblies of God Capital Christian Center.<ref>Rone Tempest, ''For Gays, a Loud New Foe; Sacramento's large enclave of immigrant Slavic evangelicals is becoming a force on social issues. Their actions shock many.'' ''Los Angeles Times'', Oct 13, 2006, A.1 Main News; Metro Desk.</ref>

The area is home to many of the city's music and arts festivals, including the Second Saturday Block Party from May to September.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.outinsacramento.com/posts/2nd-saturday.html|title=2nd Saturday Block Party Series {{!}} OUT in Sacramento|last=Coats|first=Matthew|website=Outinsacramento.com|language=en|access-date=2017-05-15}}</ref> The neighborhood hosts a weekly farmer's market known as the Midtown Farmer's Market with local produce, art vendors and food stands every Saturday morning.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Midtown Association – Midtown Farmers Market|url=http://exploremidtown.org/midtown-farmers-market/|access-date=2021-11-05|language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also== * Downtown Sacramento * East Sacramento

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Neighborhoods in Sacramento, California