Marysville was once known as the Gateway to the Gold Fields.Marysville became a destination in 1849 when it became a stopping point for riverboats carrying miners on their way to the digging grounds.In 1850 this new destination was named Marysville after the wife of the founding town leader Mary Murphy Covillaud.By 1857 Marysville was one of the largest cities in California with a population of 10,000 butthe advancement of hydraulic mining raised the riverbeds making it impossible for the riverboats to continue reaching the town. With the raised riverbeds a levee system had to be installed to prevent flooding the surrounding town with water and thus limited expansion.
Marysville is located 40 miles north of Sacramento and is bordered by the Yuba River to the east and south and the Feather River to the west.Though the levees and rivers have limited the growth of the town it has at the same time allowed Marysville to maintain its small town charm.Marysville is a town with lots of history nestled at the base of the foothills and is also surrounded by many orchards and farms.
Activities in Marysville
The topography of Marysville offers the residents plenty of activities to engage in.Marysville has a 3,000-seat baseball stadium called Bryant Field, which is home to the Marysville Gold Sox and also hosts a college baseball series called Horizon Air Summer Series.In the heart of Marysville is Ellis Lake where residents can fish or take a ride in a paddleboat. This lake also features walking paths and picnic areasall the way around the lake.Besides Ellis Lake Marysville has 14 other public parks where residents can enjoy the outdoors; one park even contains a Moto Cross course.
Marysville has a rich Chinese history and is home to the Bok Kai Temple.Every year the town celebrates the Chinese New Year and the god Bok Eye with a festival and parade.The parade is the oldest continuing parade in California and boasts a 175-foot dragon.The festival ends with the lighting of the “bombs” and if you are lucky you may be one of the individuals who retrieves one of the “good fortune” rings.Another large festival in the area is the Yuba-Sutter Greek Food and Wine Festival. There are also a dozen wineries in the foothills above Marysville and many small farms which offer their local fruits and vegetables for sale to the local residents.
The concept of farm to fork is an important one for the residents of Marysville as well as the greater Sacramento region.Historic downtown Marysville located on and around D Street and is a great place to go enjoy some food and wine while shopping for antiques, books, or local wares.
Working in Marysville
Beale Air Force Base to the east of Marysville plays an important role in the city’s economy.Besides this military base Marysville has a variety of small businesses and employers. Most of the jobs fall within the areas of administrative, healthcare, food service, retail, and education.The median income is lower in Marysville than the state at large but the cost of living index is also lower.
