10 Interesting Facts about Vallejo, CA

Vallejo, California is home to over 115,000 people, making it the largest city in Solano County and the 10th largest city in the Bay Area. The city attracts thousands of visitors per year from its amusement park alone, but there's a lot more to Vallejo than rollercoasters and animal shows. From historical landmarks to abandoned ship yards, Vallejo boasts plenty of cool attractions beyond Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. The city has been the home of influential people of the past and present, and its landscape has been inspired and featured in pop culture. It's experienced periods of great political and military influence, which has contributed to its large population, and has made for some interesting stories. So before you claim to know everything there is to know about this waterfront city, check out these facts-and prepare to be amazed.

1. Before the arrival of Europeans, Vallejo was home to various Native American tribes, including the Coastal Miwoks and the Suisunes. Settlers were first attracted to the Vallejo area because of its sulfur springs, and in 1902 the region was named “Blue Rock Springs.” The name was briefly changed to "White Sulfur Springs," and it became a popular resort in the late 1800s and early 20th century. The location now consists of a golf course and park, keeping the title of Blue Rock Springs. Unfortunately, in 1969, this area was the location of the second attack of the infamous Zodiac Killer. 
2. The city of Vallejo is named after General Vallejo, a Mexican military officer that, after the annexation of California to the United States, created plans for a city called Eureka that would serve as the capitol. His proposal was accepted, with the exception being that the city would actually be named Vallejo. 
3. Although the city is named after the influential Mexican General, Vallejo’s true founder is considered to be John B. Frisbie. General Vallejo appointed Frisbie power of attorney for Vallejo’s land grant after Frisbie married his daughter, Epifania. Frisbie was the one that hired E.H. Rowe, the man that designed the layout of the city. (Have you ever noticed that Vallejo’s east-west streets are named after states and its north-south streets named after counties? That’s all because of Rowe!) 
4. Vallejo has been the official state capitol twice. The first time was for a week in 1852, when, after Vallejo failed to provide a building or adequate meeting space, the sessions were moved to Sacramento. The second time was for a month in 1853, and it was designated only as a transition meeting place while the official capitol was being moved to Benicia. 
5. Mare Island seems like an interesting name choice for a shipyard and naval facility that is neither an island nor home to any horses. The origins of the naming of the peninsula can be traced back to the legend of General Vallejo’s horse. Before California was a state, General Vallejo owned the land, and it was reportedly where he was reunited with his prized white mare, who he had previously believed was killed in a ferry accident. To celebrate this miraculous reunion, General Vallejo renamed the land the “Isla de la Yegua,” Spanish for-you guessed it- Mare Island! 
6. Downtown Vallejo is home to a surprising historical landmark: the Alibi Clock. In 1916, a massive parade was held in San Francisco, called the Preparedness Parade as it was meant to signify support for the military, which was on the brink of entering World War l. A pipe bomb was planted during the Parade, killing ten people and injuring dozens more. The two main suspects were labor leaders Thomas Mooney and Warren Billings, whose claim of innocence was backed up by a picture of Mooney standing by a large clock, far away from the scene of the crime, in the moments leading up to the explosion. Unfortunately, this was not enough to convince the jury, and Mooney and Billings were sentenced to life in prison and the death penalty, respectively. However, 22 years later, both Billings and Mooney were exonerated after reassessment of the picture with the now infamous clock. The clock was renamed the Alibi Clock and relocated to 316 Georgia Street in Vallejo. 
7. Vallejo is home to the Mare Island Cemetery, the oldest naval cemetery on the West Coast. While mainly made up of sailors and soldiers, the cemetery does host some interesting residents, including convicted killer Lucy Lawson.
8. Vallejo is the home town of some pretty influential Bay Area rappers. Earl Stevens, better known by his stage name “E-40,” is a Vallejo native who is now a successful rapper, entrepreneur, and investor. E-40, who founded the rap group Click as well as the record label Sick Wid It Records, is reportedly worth $12 million dollars. Along with producing 27 albums and appearing on numerous movie soundtracks, E-40 has also had some success in the business industry, creating a line of energy drinks and beers and even opening a Fatburger Franchise alongside former NFL player Chester McGlockton. Well-known rapper and record producer Mac Dre also grew up in Vallejo. Dre, who released multiple albums and founded Thizz Entertainment, continued to rise in popularity until his untimely death at the age of 34, where he was fatally shot during a performance in Kansas City. A mural of Mac Dre can be found on the Vallejo water tower, now known as the "Mac Dre Tower."
9. According to a 2013 study published on BusinessInsider.com, Vallejo is the most diverse city in the nation, with an approximately even distribution of the city’s four main ethnic groups. Vallejo is also ranked as the 17th most “ethno-racial” and linguistically diverse city in the U.S. 
10.  Vallejo has made appearances in several movies. Notably, films Destination Tokyo and Submarine Command both include shots of Vallejo and Mare Island. The city of Vallejo has also been the source of inspiration for tv shows. The Cartoon Network show, The Amazing World of Gumball, has a fictional town called Elmore that is based on the city of Vallejo. The series uses live action shots of the city, including locations like Lincoln Elementary School and Sonoma Boulevard. Most recently, Vallejo was used as a filming location for the 2017 Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. Monet's Cafe, the movie theater, and Baker's Drug Store are all fictional locations in 13 Reasons Why that were shot at various points in downtown Vallejo, depicted in the images below.