Country United States County Sacramento Time zone PST (UTC-8) Area 52.19 km² Area code Area code 916 | State California City Sacramento ZIP code 95833/95834/95835 Elevation 7.6 m | |
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Natomas is a community in northwestern Sacramento, California. It is the last area of Sacramento that has not been fully developed and has seen major residential development in the 1990s and 2000s. Major growth has been mostly due to Sleep Train Arena, former home court to the Sacramento Kings and now disbanded Monarchs and disbanded Sacramento Knights, located in Natomas. Natomas is generally defined as south of the Sacramento County line, north of the Garden Highway and the American River, west of the Natomas East Main Drain, and east of the Sacramento River. The neighborhood school district is Natomas Unified School District.
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Major Features
The Sleep Train Arena is the major feature of the Natomas area of Sacramento. The Sacramento International Airport is within the bounds of Natomas as defined by Sacramento County, but it is several miles away from the largely populated area of Natomas. Natomas is the closest portion of the city to the airport. Thus, there are many hotels located throughout the Natomas area. Natomas is a historical flood plain and is therefore subject to flooding. Another feature of this area is the ease of access to Interstate 5, Interstate 80, and the northern portion of Highway 99's route through Sacramento, making it a desirable living area for workers who commute.
Natomas is also home to a variety of outdoor spaces, including bike trails and parks. One of the newest additions is North Natomas Regional Park. Although it is being completed in phases, it is currently home to a water spray area for kids, grassy fields, playgrounds, ball fields, picnic areas, two dog parks (one for little and another for big dogs), asphalt and concrete paths for walking and riding, and a permanent farmers' market structure. Jack rabbits, birds of prey, and other wildlife romp in the undeveloped fields adjacent to the developed portions.
Government
Natomas is represented by Angelique Ashby, the District 1 representative on the Sacramento City Council, Steve Hansen, the District 4 representative on the Sacramento City Council, and Jeff Harris, the District 3 representative on the Sacramento City Council as well as by Phil Serna, the District 1 representative on the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors.
In the California State Legislature, Natomas is in the 6th Senate District, represented by Democrat Richard Pan, and in the 7th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Kevin McCarty.
In the United States House of Representatives, Natomas is in California's 6th congressional district, represented by Democrat Doris Matsui.
The Natomas Basin Conservancy serves as plan operator for the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan. It acquires and manages habitat land for the benefit of the 22 special status species covered under the Plan.
Education
Most of the Natomas region is served by the Natomas Unified School District. Small portions are served by Twin Rivers Unified School District.
Elementary schools on the south side include American Lakes Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Bannon Creek Elementary, and Two Rivers Elementary. The middle school is Natomas Gateways Middle School and the high school is Natomas High School.
Elementary schools include Natomas Park Elementary (Established 2000), Witter Ranch Elementary (Established 2004), Heron School (K-8) (Established 2006), H. Allen Hight Elementary (Established 2008), and Paso Verde Elementary (K-8, to be established 2017). Natomas Middle School is the traditional middle school and Inderkum High School is the main high school.
Charter schools are a very popular option. Firstly, the district runs a dependent charter school in Southwest Natomas at named Leroy Greene Academy, a 7-12 college preparatory secondary school. Independent charter school options include the Star Academy (K-5), Leading Edge Middle School (6-8) and Performing Fine Arts Academy (6-12) which are all part of the Natomas Charter School. Star Academy is located on its own campus in Natomas Crossing while the other schools are located at the main Natomas Charter Campus in Natomas Park. There is also Westlake Charter School (K-8) which is moving to a new campus in Natomas Park in 2017 and Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep Academy (K-12, college prep). NP3 K-5 is located in a temporary location on Commerce Way near the old Sleep Train Arena while the middle school and high school portion are located on Del Paso Road.
The Northgate region of South Natomas is served by Twin Rivers Unified School District. Students in these areas are assigned to Grant Union High School in Del Paso Heights. There is also a small portion of North Natomas served by Twin Rivers Unified School District. The Elementary school is Regency Park Elementary School. The assigned middle school is Norwood (in the Robla area) and Rio Linda High School but many students do not attend those assigned schools and opt for either NUSD schools or for charter schools.
Notable residents
With the development of Natomas in the 1990s and 2000s, it became a very popular spot for legislators to buy second residences during the real estate boom of the early twenty-first century. Two reasons for its popularity were its relative affordability and proximity to the capitol.