Central and West districts: 26 July 1984 North district: 19 April 1984
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.[1][2][3]
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.[4] The art group Royal Chicano Air Force (RCAF) opened in 1960s in Alkali Flat.[5] It was one of the "most important collective artist groups"[6] 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.[7][8] Some historic homes were moved to Alkali Flat in the 1990s.[9][10][8]
Some of the notable places in Alkali Flat Historic District: There are 46 buildings on Central Alkali Flat National list:[16] Alkali Flat West has 17 buildings on the National list.[17] Alkali Flat North has 14 buildings on the National list.[18]