Benicia

Benicia is a city in Solano County, California, sitting on the north shore of the Carquinez Strait. Residential streets mix with older commercial zones, while the waterfront area offers access to the water and small parks scattered along the shoreline.

The settlement was founded in 1847 by General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo and his brother-in-law, named for Vallejo's wife. Between 1853 and 1854 the California government met here before moving permanently to Sacramento.

The name comes from Doña Francisca Benicia Vallejo, wife of a Mexican general who once controlled the region. Today visitors see the legacy in the downtown quarter along First Street, where old storefronts and brick buildings recall the early settlement years.

Downtown streets with shops and restaurants sit close to the water and can be explored on foot. Visitors driving from the Bay Area cross the Benicia-Martinez Bridge over the strait and find parking along the main avenues.

The old 19th-century arsenal complex now houses workshops and galleries, where artists have set up studios in the former brick buildings. On weekends visitors often find open studio events where they can watch craftspeople at work.

Location: Solano County

Inception: 1850

Shares border with: Fairfield, Vallejo

Website: http://ci.benicia.ca.us

GPS coordinates: 38.06333,-122.15611

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:20