It may not be part of Elk Grove proper, but the River Delta community has long been connected to us. Over the years, how many of you have perused the museums and taken friends and dates to “Al the Wops” in Locke. Many have attended the Pear Faire in Courtland or the Crawdad Festival in Isleton. Some of us have danced in the speakeasy downstairs or ate upstairs at the Ryde Hotel? Who has windsurfed near Rio Vista and fished the many rivers and islands of the sloughs. Who can forget those Sunday drives along the river to all those quaint shops, museums, and cafes in each town. We are connected.
In the early history of our region, towns along the Sacramento River promoted commerce and trade up and down the river. In the late 1800’s, paddleboats and steamers became the primary mode for transporting goods and people from San Francisco to Sacramento. Each town has contributed to that history in some way and have their own stories to tell.
Here are some short synopses of nine towns and their historical connections to the Delta that were published in the seventh annual “delta life 2024” compiled by the Isleton Chamber of Commerce (isletonchamber.com). We salute and support the Sacramento River Delta Historical Society for their efforts to preserve and maintain the history (srdhspresident@gmail.com or 916-456-4930). They have become our friends with the same goals, and we appreciate their support of our activities.
Towns in close approximately to our region and listed below are Clarksburg, Courtland, Freeport, Hood, Isleton, Locke, Rio Vista, Ryde, and Walnut Grove, but there are other towns considered part of the River Delta community like Sherman Island, Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Pittsburg and the Delta Loop, but aren’t discussed here.
We encourage one of those Sunday drives and enjoy the peacefulness of it all.
Clarksburg
Courtland
Freeport
Hood
Isleton
Locke
Rio Vista
Ryde
Walnut Grove