Sutter County was created in 1850 at the time of California’s statehood. The County is named after one of the state’s more engaging and complex historical personalities, and an agricultural visionary, John Augustus Sutter. He was one of the first to recognize the Sacramento Valley for its potential as an agricultural empire. Hock Farm, just south of Yuba City, was the site of the valley’s first large agricultural enterprise. Today, the majority of Sutter County’s 608 square miles is still prime agricultural and grazing land. The County’s FY 2018-19 budget is $335 million and is supported by 20 departments that provide a broad variety of services such as law enforcement, development services, general services, human services, public works, and veteran’s services. Known for its close-knit, community-oriented environment, Sutter County is centrally located, with the County seat of Yuba City just 40 miles north of Sacramento, and bordered by the Feather and Sacramento Rivers to the east and west. The County seat, Yuba City, was ranked as one of the 2015 “Best-Performing Small Cities” in America by the Milken Institute, which recognizes trends and factors that power regional growth. Ethnically and culturally diverse, the County boasts one of the largest Sikh populations in the U.S. and every November hosts the Sikh Parade. In addition, annual events around the County include the Yuba City Summer and Christmas Strolls, the Live Oak Festival, 4th of July Parade, the Nicolaus Labor Day Parade, the Yuba-Sutter Fair and numerous philanthropic activities hosted by a myriad of non-profit and civic organizations. Recreational and outdoor opportunities are plentiful and the area’s Mediterranean climate provides for year-round activities. From hiking to biking through the ‘world’s smallest mountain range’ the Sutter Buttes; fishing the rivers; hunting; bird-watching at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area along the Pacific Flyway; or, taking advantage of the County’s close proximity to the Napa wine country, San Francisco, Sacramento, historical landmarks, and the breathtaking beauty of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountain range, leisure and entertainment activities are always close at hand. The Sutter County Board of Supervisors serves as the legislative body for the County and provides policy direction for all branches of County government. The five-member Board is responsible for enacting ordinances and resolutions, adopting the annual County budget, levying taxes, and approving formal contracts and agreements. There are also six elected department heads: Assessor, Auditor-Controller, Clerk-Recorder, District Attorney, Sheriff-Coroner and Treasurer-Tax Collector.