Davis-ville

Welcome to the "Best Bicycling Community in America!"
The City of Davis, known as Davisville until 1907, has over 65,000 residents, which doesn't account for the nearly 6,000 students living on the UC Davis campus.  In this "bicycle friendly town", bicycles are more prolific than residents!  In 2005, Davis became the League of American Bicyclists' first Platinum-level bicycle-friendly community for providing safe accommodation and facilities for bicyclists.  Be forewarned, in a town where bicycles are as diverse as their owners, bike thieves abound. DON'T forget your bike lock, or you'll have a loooong walk!  All bikes on the UC Davis campus require a bike license.  For more information visit the City of Davis Bike License or the UC Davis Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) Bike License web page.

America's Playground: recreational opportunities abound
The City’s quality of life in this progressive community are reflected in its dedication to energy conservation, environmental programs, green belt development, parks, tree preservation, Natural gas-powered British double-decker buses, bicycle accommodation expansion, and providing quality educational institutions.  Virtually the entire state of California is within a one-day driving distance. The Sacramento and American Rivers lie to the east along with the historic gold country, Lake Tahoe, and the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. To the west are the San Francisco Bay area, the great coastal redwood forest, and the beaches and rugged shores of the Pacific Ocean. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region lies to the south. There is unparalleled scenic beauty and many recreational opportunities within a few hours drive from Davis.  Outdoor Adventures (OA) is a great on-campus resource for new and veteran outdoor enthusiast.  They have a great rental shop, equipment swap, and adventure classes and trips.

The Central Valley climate can be described as Mediterranean. The mild temperate climate means enjoyment of outdoors all year long, whether it be skiing, white water rafting, cycling, backpacking, or rock climbing.   During the hot, dry, sunny summers, temperatures on some days can exceed 100 degrees F; however, more often summer temperatures are in the low 90s. The Sacramento River Delta breeze usually cools overnight temperatures into the 60s. Spring and fall has some of the most pleasant weather in the state. Winters in Davis are usually mild. Temperatures drop below freezing on only a few days. The rainy season typically runs from late fall through early spring and fog season lasts from November through March.

Davis Farmer's Market:
Davis is noted for its desirable quality of life, its seeming small town atmosphere, and an emphasis on parks and open spaces. Davis’ parks contain picnic facilities, ball fields and swimming pools.  In this agricultural basin, freshly farmed fruits and vegetables are plentiful.  In late March through October most of the community gathers on Wednesday nights from 4:30 to 6:30 PM for "Picnic in the Park" where children streak from one play structure to another as parents enjoy choice picks from the farm stands or local food vendors, all the while grooving to live music from local bands.  Plenty of entertainment for the whole family, including bounce houses, pony rides, clowns, face painting, Rocknasium's rock climbing wall and much more.

Davis Neighborhoods:
Davis is internally divided by two freeways (Interstate 80 and State Route 113), a north-south railroad (California Northern), an east-west mainline (Union Pacific) and several major streets.  The city is unofficially divided into six main districts made up of smaller neighborhoods:
  • Central Davis, north of Fifth Street and Russell Boulevard, south of Covell Blvd., east of SR 113, and west of the railroad tracks running along G Street.
  • Downtown Davis, roughly the numbered-and-lettered grid north of I-80, south of Fifth Street, east of A Street, and west of the railroad tracks.
  • East Davis, north of I-80, south of Covell Blvd., and east of the railroad tracks, and includes Mace Ranch and Lake Alhambra Estates.
  • North Davis, north of Covell Blvd.
  • South Davis, south of I-80, and includes Willowbank. El Macero, California, although outside the city limits, is sometimes considered part of South Davis; El Macero is part of the Davis Joint Unified School District, and El Macero children who attend public schools attend Davis' public schools.
  • West Davis, north of I-80 and west of SR 113. West Davis includes Westwood, Evergreen, Aspen, Stonegate (west of Lake Boulevard and including Stonegate Lake and the Stonegate Country Club) and the eco-friendly Village Homes development, known for its solar-powered houses.
The greenbelt refers to the nearly continuous stretch of parks andbike paths that stretch across north, south, east, and west Davis. There are more than sixty miles of greenbelt in a town of merely ten square miles. Along with the Arboretum, the greenbelt offers many pleasant places to walk or run or ride your bike. The green belt incorporates many bike bridges and bike tunnels as well. Kids also use the greenbelt to bike to school. You'll also see adult and youth soccer enthusiasts practicing in the greenbelt's larger spaces.  With wide open spaces, well developed bike paths, and grassy knolls, the greenbelt is perfect for running, taking a casual stroll, or enjoying the outdoors with your dog.

The University of California, Davis is located south of Russell Boulevard and west of A Street and then south of 1st Street. The land occupied by the university is not incorporated within the boundaries of the city of Davis and lies within both Yolo and Solano Counties.


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 Newsworthy:
In 1999 Davis was highlighted on the Daily Show for its construction of Toad Hollow.

Davis' Toad Tunnel is a wildlife crossing that was constructed in 1995 and has drawn much attention over the years, including a mention on The Daily Show. Because of the building of an overpass, animal lovers worried about toads being killed by cars commuting from South Davis to North Davis, since the toads hopped from one side of a dirt lot (which the overpass replaced) to the reservoir at the other end. After much controversy, a decision was made to build a toad tunnel, which runs beneath the Pole Line Road overpass which crosses Interstate 80. The project cost $14,000. The tunnel is 21 inches (53 cm) wide and 18 inches (46 cm) high.

The tunnel has created problems of its own. The toads originally refused to use the tunnel and so the tunnel was lit to encourage its use. The toads then died from the heat of the lamps inside the tunnel. Once through the tunnel, the toads also had to contend with birds who grew wise to the toad-producing hole in the ground. The exit to the toad tunnel has been decorated by the Postmaster to resemble a toad town.


Useful Resources:
  • Davis Wiki is the best resource for anything and everything about Davis - especially the little enjoyable things.  Definitely check out dentists on this page for sage advise!
  • iSeeDavis brings you video of news and events in Davis, CA, Yolo County and UC Davis. From local culture to community life to Aggie pride, we’ve got the scoop on your town.
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