Solano County Seat on Interstate 80
Welcome to Fairfield, the Solano County seat set midway between San Francisco and Sacramento, home to Travis Air Force Base and the Jelly Belly factory.
Fairfield is a city in and the county seat of Solano County, in Northern California, situated along Interstate 80 where Interstate 680 terminates. With a population of 119,881 at the 2020 census, it is one of the largest cities in the county and a central hub between the San Francisco Bay Area and the Sacramento Valley, lying roughly 45 miles from both downtown San Francisco and the State Capitol. The city was founded in 1856 by clipper ship captain Robert H. Waterman, who named it for his former hometown of Fairfield, Connecticut, and it secured the Solano County seat in 1858. Its modern economy is diversified across government, manufacturing, healthcare, and retail, with Travis Air Force Base, a major Air Mobility Command installation, and the Jelly Belly Candy Company among its most recognizable institutions. Anheuser-Busch and Clorox also operate facilities in the area. Fairfield's location is its defining advantage. Interstate 80 runs through the city, and Interstate 680 connects it to the East Bay, making it a natural base for commuters heading to either the Bay Area or Sacramento. The Suisun Marsh, the largest contiguous brackish marsh on the West Coast, borders the city, and the Suisun Valley wine region lies just to the north. Housing ranges from older central neighborhoods and military-area attached homes to newer subdivisions in Cordelia and Green Valley. Public education is provided by the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, with the Travis Unified School District serving the base area. For people seeking a central, more attainable Northern California location with military, agricultural, and commuter roots, Fairfield offers a practical and increasingly prominent place to live.
Fairfield is the county seat of Solano County, in Northern California. The city sits in the northern Bay Area along Interstate 80, between the San Francisco Bay Area and the Sacramento Valley.
Fairfield is known as the home of Travis Air Force Base, a major Air Mobility Command installation, and of the Jelly Belly Candy Company, whose factory has long been a popular visitor attraction. The city also hosts Anheuser-Busch and Clorox facilities.
Fairfield is served by the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, which operates the city's elementary, middle, and high schools, including Armijo High School. The separate Travis Unified School District serves the area around Travis Air Force Base.
Fairfield sits roughly 45 miles from both downtown San Francisco and the State Capitol in Sacramento. Its position along Interstate 80, where Interstate 680 terminates, makes it a central hub for commuters heading to either metro.
Fairfield had a population of 119,881 at the 2020 census. Founded in 1856 by clipper ship captain Robert H. Waterman, it was named for his former hometown of Fairfield, Connecticut, and became the Solano County seat in 1858.
City Guide
Fairfield's housing stock spans several eras and settings. Older central neighborhoods and areas near Travis Air Force Base include modest single-family homes, row houses, and attached housing serving military and first-time buyers, while newer subdivisions in Cordelia and Green Valley offer contemporary suburban homes on larger lots. Mankas Corner and other established areas provide more spacious, higher-end properties. The city's position between the Bay Area and Sacramento supports steady demand from commuters, and the range of housing types — from compact attached units to larger single-family homes — reflects its role as a broad-market regional hub.
Fairfield's neighborhoods vary from the hills of Cordelia and Green Valley to the east to the more established central and southern districts. Cordelia Hills is known for its walkable schools and suburban streets, while Green Valley and Cordelia provide newer construction and convenient highway access. Mankas Corner is among the city's more affluent, spacious areas, and Tolenas offers a more modest, established setting. Areas near Travis Air Force Base hold a concentration of attached housing and military families. The result is a city of distinct pockets, from hillside subdivisions to older in-town blocks, all connected by Interstate 80.
Fairfield offers a practical, family-oriented lifestyle defined by its central location. Military families connected to Travis Air Force Base, Bay Area and Sacramento commuters, and a diverse local workforce all call the city home, drawn by its convenience at the I-80 and I-680 junction. Community life spans the Suisun Valley's vineyards and farm stands, the Suisun Marsh's wetlands, and the city's parks and recreation programs. Residents can reach San Francisco's cultural amenities or Sacramento's government and dining in under an hour, while enjoying housing and open space that are more attainable than in the inner Bay Area.
Fairfield is served by the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, which operates the city's elementary, middle, and high schools, including Armijo High School. The separate Travis Unified School District covers the area around Travis Air Force Base, serving military and civilian families on and near the installation. This dual-district structure gives families options depending on location. For higher education, Solano Community College has a campus in Fairfield, and California State University and University of California campuses, as well as Sacramento's universities, are within commuting distance.
Fairfield sits at the junction of Interstate 80 and Interstate 680, two of Northern California's principal freeways, placing San Francisco and Sacramento each about 45 miles away. Amtrak's Capitol Corridor serves the nearby Suisun-Fairfield station with rail service between the Bay Area and Sacramento, and Solano Express bus routes add regional connections. Travis Air Force Base anchors the local military transportation network. For air travel, Sacramento International and the Bay Area's three major airports are all within practical reach, reinforcing the city's role as a transportation crossroads.
Fairfield's recreation draws on its unique setting. The Jelly Belly factory offers tours that have made it a regional attraction, and the Anheuser-Busch brewery adds another popular stop. The Suisun Marsh, the largest contiguous brackish marsh on the West Coast, provides birding, kayaking, and wildlife viewing, while the Suisun Valley's wineries and farm stands offer a local wine-and-agriculture scene. City parks and recreation programs serve families throughout the year, and the city's central location puts Napa Valley, Lake Berryessa, the Sacramento River, and the San Francisco Bay all within easy reach.
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