The Alkali Flat Historic District is a historic district in Sacramento, California. It is the oldest surviving neighborhood in Sacramento. The older Alkali Flat buildings and homes were built between 1853 and 1869 by the Sacramento's upper class. Alkali Flat borders are: 12th Street, H Street (Government Alley), 7th Street, and Southern Pacific Train tracks to the north.
History As the older upper class houses became less wanted, Irish and Mexicans immigrants moved in the 1920’s. In 1920s, the neighborhood got its name "Alkali Flat" as white powder once coated the ground seasonally in the Sutter slough during spring and winter floods. All of the homes were run down by the 1950s. The city started a redevelopment program for Alkali Flat. The city zoned Alkali Flat as a C-4 zone for business. KCRA Television moved in, along with other businesses. The County of Sacramento built offices and parking in Alkali Flat. The Capitol Corridor project and I-5 established in 1991, removed houses in Sacramento and some moved into Alkali Flat. The art group Royal Chicano Air Force (RCAF) opened in 1960s in Alkali Flat. It was one of the "most important collective artist groups" A new city redevelopment program for Alkali Flat started on February 10, 1972. The “Redevelopment Plan Alkali Flat Project No 6” zoned some of Alkali Flat as residential, starting an effort to preserve the history of Alkali Flat.“Redevelopment Plan Alkali Flat Project No 6, cityofsacramento.org Some historic homes were moved to Alkali Flat in the 1990s.
The Blue Line (SacRT) has a station, as well as the Alkali Flat/La Valentina station and the Globe station that opened in 1987.
National Register of Historic Places In 1984 Alkali Flat received three National Register of Historic Places listings: Alkali Flat Central Historic District: 95-acre E and F Streets, between 9th and 12th Sts, (#84000929 on July 26, 1984) . Alkali Flat North Historic District: 23-acre D and 11th Streets (#84000933 on April 19, 1984). Alkali Flat West Historic District: 67-acre E, F, and 8th Streets, mostly residential with some canals. (#84000933 on July 26, 1984)
Notable places Some of the notable places in Alkali Flat Historic District: There are 46 buildings on Central Alkali Flat National list:Notable places in Central Alkali Flat Historic District noehill.com Alkali Flat West has 17 buildings on the National list.Alkali Flat West Historic District, noehill.com Alkali Flat North has 14 buildings on the National list.Alkali Flat North noehill.com J. Neely Johnson House Fourth Governor of California home. National Register #76000512 Mesick House National Register #82002236. Kuchler Row National Register #82002234.Kuchler Row, noehill.com Hubbard-Upson House, National Register #77000327 Hubbard-Upson House noehill.com Anton Wagner DuplexAnton Wagner Duplex parks.ca.gov Phoenix Milling Company now The Globe Mill The Globe Mill, oftsatglobemills.com Van Voorhies HouseVan Voorhies House, calisphere.org Crystal Cream and Butter Company Crystal Cream and Butter Company, crystalcreamery.com Phoenix Flour Mill Phoenix Flour Mill, calisphere.org California Almond Growers Exchange (1910-1915) Southern Pacific Hospital on 8th & F StreetSouthern Pacific Hospital calisphere.org Banta Mill (1898-1902) Burnett & Sons Novelty Wood Works ovelty Wood Works, calisphere.org Sacramento Hostel, 1885 Victorian mansion HI Sacramento Hostel Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Courthouse Sacramento County Public Law Library KCRA-TV Zapata Park, 1 acre park, with Community Gardens.Zapata Park cityofsacramento.org Neely Johnson Park, 1 acre parkeely Johnson Park, cityofsacramento.org
Gallery
See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Sacramento County, California Old Sacramento State Historic Park Old Sacramento Chinatown
Further reading
Alkali Flat North Historic District, National Register of Historic Places listing Alkali Flat West Historic District, National Register of Historic Places listing Sacramento's Alkali Flat, James Scott and Tom Tolley, 2010, ISBN 9780738571515
References