Sacramento, capital of the U.S. state of California,is at the confluence of theSacramento Riverand theAmerican Riverin the northern portion of California's expansiveCentral Valley. Dubbed as "America's Most Diverse City", itis the cultural and economic core of theSacramento metropolitan area.During theCalifornia Gold Rush, Sacramento was a major distribution point, a commercial and agricultural center, and a terminus forwagon trains,stagecoaches,riverboats, thetelegraph, thePony Express, and theFirst Transcontinental Railroad.
The city was named after the Sacramento River, which forms its western border. The river was named by Spanish cavalry officer Gabriel Moraga for theSantísimo Sacramento(Blessed Sacrament), referring to theCatholic Eucharist.
California State University, Sacramento, more commonly known asSacramento StateorSac State, is the largest university in the city and one of 23 campuses in theCalifornia State Universitysystem.University of the Pacific'sSacramento Campus is a private university with one of its three campuses in Sacramento. In addition, theUniversity of California, Davis, is in nearbyDavis, 15 miles (24km) west of the capital. TheUC Davis Medical Center, a world-renowned research hospital, is located in the city of Sacramento.