North Sacramento is a well-established community that is currently part of the city of Sacramento, California. It was a city from its incorporation in 1924 until it was merged (in a bitter election decided by 6 votes) in 1964 into the City of Sacramento.
North Sacramento, when still a city, was distinctive for being the only incorporated city immediately adjacent to Sacramento, so when it merged with Sacramento, the combined city became the largest city in the United States without any adjacent cities, towns, or incorporated municipalities. This status continued until the incorporation of West Sacramento 23 years later in 1987. The primary zip code for North Sacramento is 95815.
At the time of its 1964 merger with Sacramento, the boundaries of North Sacramento consisted of the American River on the south, property lines and the Natomas East Drainage Canal on the west, Main Avenue on the north, and the Sacramento Northern Railroad on the east until its junction with Lampasas Avenue, continuing east and south on Evergreen Street, east on El Camino Avenue (with variations), and southeast on the Southern Pacific railroad line to its crossing of the American River. All of these boundaries were also the boundaries of the surrounding city of Sacramento, except for the communities of Hagginwood and Ben Ali, which were not yet annexed to either city.
The majority of this community continues to have its own elementary school district called the North Sacramento School District, as well as numerous community and civic organizations (the North Sacrmento Chamber was founded in 1934) with the old city name. The retail life of the community relied substantially upon the road traffic of Rio Linda Boulevard and El Camino Avenue (which carried U.S. Route 40 in the pre-freeway days) during its heyday as a separate city. North Sacramento is also the home of Sacramento's central U.S. Postal Service facility. Iconic Iceland Skating Rink still operates on Del Paso Bouleveard. The North Sacramento Freeway was completed in the late 1950s, originally carrying U.S. 40 and renumbered in 1964 as Highway 160 (the portion west of Arden Way).
Woodlake is a neighborhood situated within North Sacramento, it's own city until 1964. The boundaries of Woodlake are Arden Way to the north, State Route 160 to the south, Royal Oaks Drive to the east and Del Paso Boulevard (Uptown Art District) to the west. Woodlake is a neighborhood of mostly older homes with great character, often cited in Sacramento Publications as one of Sacramento's great neighborhoods.
The Flats is a neighborhood situated within North Sacramento. The boundaries of The Flats are the Arcade Creek to the north, El Camino Avenue to the south, Norwood Avenue to the east, and the Natomas East Drainage Canal to the west. It is also represented by Sacramento City Council Sandy Sheedy.
Gardenland is a neighborhood situated within North Sacramento. The boundaries of Gardenland are Silver Eagle Road to the north, the Arden-Garden Connector to the south, Northgate Boulevard to the west, and the Natomas East Drainage Canal to the east.
Northgate is a neighborhood situated in North Sacramento. The boudaries of Northgate are San Juan Road to the north, Garden Highway to the south, Northgate Boulevard to the east, and Northgate Park to the west.