Galt, California

Galt was founded in 1869 by the Central Pacific Railroad as part of the first transcontinental railroad.{{cite web | url=https://www.cityofgalt.org/our-city/galt-history | title=Galt History | Galt, CA }} The town is named after Galt, Ontario, the Canadian home town of local rancher John McFarland.

Galt is located at {{Coord|38.260842|-121.303122|type:city_region:US|format=dms|display=inline}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|5.9|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|5.9|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and 0.23% is water.

The city is bordered entirely by unincorporated areas of both Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties.

Galt was named in 1869 after the former city of Galt in Canada, now part of Cambridge, the hometown of John McFarland.{{cite book|last=Gudde|first=Edwin G.|title=California place names: The origin and etymology of current geographical names|year=2004|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley and Los Angeles, California|isbn=978-0-520-24217-3|pages=140}}

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Galt has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps.{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=286040&cityname=Galt,+California,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Galt, California Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase}}

{{US Census population

|1950= 1333

|1960= 1868

|1970= 3200

|1980= 5514

|1990= 8889

|2000= 19472

|2010= 23647

|2020= 25383

|estyear=2024

|estimate=26589

|estref=

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}{{cbignore}}

}}

The 2020 United States census reported that Galt had a population of 25,383. The population density was {{convert|3,552.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Galt was 50.7% White, 1.9% African American, 1.7% Native American, 4.1% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 22.8% from other races, and 18.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 45.7% of the population.{{cite web |title=Galt city, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0628112 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 21, 2025}}

The census reported that 99.4% of the population lived in households, 0.2% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.4% were institutionalized.

There were 8,131 households, out of which 41.7% included children under the age of 18, 58.7% were married-couple households, 6.3% were cohabiting couple households, 22.4% had a female householder with no partner present, and 12.6% had a male householder with no partner present. 16.2% of households were one person, and 8.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.1. There were 6,424 families (79.0% of all households).{{cite web |title=Galt city, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0628112 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 21, 2025}}

The age distribution was 25.9% under the age of 18, 9.3% aged 18 to 24, 25.8% aged 25 to 44, 25.0% aged 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 36.4{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males.

There were 8,304 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,162.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}, of which 8,131 (97.9%) were occupied. Of these, 74.3% were owner-occupied, and 25.7% were occupied by renters.

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 19.7% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 63.0% spoke only English at home, 31.6% spoke Spanish, 2.6% spoke other Indo-European languages, 2.7% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 0.1% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 84.0% were high school graduates and 21.1% had a bachelor's degree.{{cite web |title=Galt city, California; CP02: Comparative Social Characteristics in the United States - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSCP5Y2023.CP02?g=1600000US0628112 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 21, 2025}}

The median household income was $86,327, and the per capita income was $36,124. About 4.4% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line.{{cite web |title=Galt city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0628112 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 21, 2025}}

At the 2010 census Galt had a population of 23,647. The population density was {{convert|3,977.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Galt was 15,639 (66.1%) White, 430 (1.8%) African American, 361 (1.5%) Native American, 815 (3.4%) Asian, 108 (0.5%) Pacific Islander, 4,834 (20.4%) from other races, and 1,460 (6.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10,113 persons (42.8%).{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0628112|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715025038/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0628112|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Galt city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}

The census reported that 23,498 people (99.4% of the population) lived in households, 32 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 117 (0.5%) were institutionalized.

There were 7,262 households, 3,516 (48.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 4,431 (61.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 895 (12.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 465 (6.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 431 (5.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 32 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,171 households (16.1%) were one person and 547 (7.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.24. There were 5,791 families (79.7% of households); the average family size was 3.62.

The age distribution was 7,347 people (31.1%) under the age of 18, 2,262 people (9.6%) aged 18 to 24, 6,344 people (26.8%) aged 25 to 44, 5,414 people (22.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,280 people (9.6%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 32.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.

There were 7,678 housing units at an average density of 1,291.6 per square mile, of the occupied units 5,344 (73.6%) were owner-occupied and 1,918 (26.4%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.2%. 17,034 people (72.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 6,464 people (27.3%) lived in rental housing units.

The local fire department is owned and operated by the [http://www.yourcsd.com/ Cosumnes Community Services District]. Founded in 1893, Elk Grove's Fire Department started with a single hose cart and a small group of dedicated volunteers. From these humble beginnings, the Department has forged a lasting presence in the community. Continued growth and innovation in the fire service has prompted a diverse array of new Fire Department projects and responsibilities. Each year, the Fire Prevention Bureau conducts hundreds of new construction inspections and plan reviews and actively implements annual weed abatement and fireworks enforcement campaigns. Moreover, the Public Education Division coordinates a number of safety activities including "Change Your Clock-Change Your Smoke Detector Batteries" Campaign, the Juvenile Firesetters Intervention Program, the Life Jacket Loan-Out Program and Car Seat Safety Inspections. A new Special Operations Division was formed in 2007 that oversees the specialized rescue, hazardous materials, and disaster preparedness needs for the Cosumnes CSD Fire Department.

As they have done for more than 100 years, the members of the Cosumnes CSD Fire Department maintain their commitment to protecting the lives, property and environment from fire and other natural and manmade disasters and emergencies in a courteous, timely and effective manner. In 2010, Tracey M. Hansen, a 17-year veteran of the Cosumnes CSD Fire Department was named the new Fire Chief by CSD General Manager Jeff Ramos, the latest achievement in a career she began as a paramedic. Hansen named John Michelini as her Deputy Chief and the team immediately began developing strategies to effectively manage the Fire Department during the recession.{{Cite web |url=http://yourcsd.com/fire/history.asp |title=Fire Department History - CSD Fire |access-date=November 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219221852/http://www.yourcsd.com/fire/history.asp |archive-date=December 19, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

Galt operates under an elected council form of government. The Mayor of Galt is peer elected by the entire City Council. Currently, the council members (with end of term in parentheses) are: Mayor Shawn Farmer (2026), Vice Mayor Paul Sandhu (2026), Council Member Bonny Rodriguez (2026), Council Member Tim Reed (2028) and Council Member Mathew Pratton (2028).{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityofgalt.org/government/city-council-62|title=City Council | Galt, CA|website=www.cityofgalt.org}}

In the California State Legislature, Galt is in {{Representative|casd|5|fmt=sdistrict}}, and {{Representative|caad|9|fmt=adistrict}}.{{Cite web |url=http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html |title=Statewide Database |publisher=UC Regents |access-date=January 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201113744/http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html |archive-date=February 1, 2015 |url-status=dead }}

In the United States House of Representatives, Galt is in {{Representative|cacd|9|fmt=district}}.{{Cite GovTrack|CA|9|access-date=March 9, 2013}}

Current Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli served as the youngest member of the Galt City Council in 1978 at just 23 years old, while Andrew J. Meredith served as its youngest Mayor in 2007 at 27 years old.

Galt has had a weekly newspaper, [https://www.galtherald.com/ The Galt Herald], since 1909. It has been owned and operated by the same family since 1959, the Herburgers of Herburger Publications, Inc.

Galt Joint Union Elementary School District operates the city's public elementary and intermediate schools, and Galt Joint Union High School District operates the city's public high schools.

Galt is home to many civic groups and clubs. The [http://galthistory.org/ Galt Area Historical Society] is very active and has more than 500 members. The [http://pawsweb.org/ Performing Animal Welfare Society] is a place where retired, abandoned or abused performing animals and victims of the exotic animal trade can live in peace and contentment. The Galt Lions Club is part of Lions International and helps the local visually impaired repair their vision.

Galt is well known for the Flea Market, also known as [http://www.ci.galt.ca.us/site/Market/about.php Galt Market].

Cosumnes River country holds a very special place among California landscapes. The [http://www.cosumnes.org/ Cosumnes River Preserve] was created to safeguard much of that landscape.

The city hosts an annual winter bird festival, in conjunction with the Cosumnes River Preserve, as many birds winter in and around the city.{{Cite web | url=http://www.ci.galt.ca.us/index.aspx?page=495 | title=12TH Annual Winter Bird Festival | Galt, CA}}

Brewster House, on the National Register of Historic Places, is located there.

The Galt Arno Cemetery District is located in Galt.

The California Department of Corrections "Boot Camp" School is located in Galt.

• LeVar Burton, at the age of thirteen, entered St. Pius X seminary in Galt to become a priest.
• Ryan Mattheus, former pitcher for the Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball
• Zach Phillips, former MLB pitcher
• Stephanie Brown Trafton, gold medalist in the discus throw at the 2008 Summer Olympics

{{Geographic location

|Center = Galt

|North = Southeast Unincorporated Area (Sacramento County)

|Northeast = Southeast Unincorporated Area (Sacramento County)

|East = Southeast Unincorporated Area (Sacramento County)

|Southeast = San Joaquin County

|South = San Joaquin County (Acampo)

|Southwest = San Joaquin County (Acampo)

|West = Southeast Unincorporated Area (Sacramento County)

|Northwest = Southeast Unincorporated Area (Sacramento County)

|image =

}}File:Lodi, Galt, Sacramento.jpg (lower right), Galt (small, center), and Sacramento (upper left), California]]

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{{Sacramento County, California}}

{{Sacramento Valley}}

{{Greater Sacramento}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Sacramento County, California

Category:Cities in Sacramento metropolitan area

Category:1946 establishments in California

Category:Populated places established in 1946

Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California