Fairfield’s History and Why We’re Proud to Serve the Fairfield Community
Humans have lived in the Fairfield–Suisun area for thousands of years; Solano County’s Ion culture left artifacts dating back 5,000–6,000 years. Spanish soldier Gabriel Moraga attacked local Suisun Indians in 1810, and in 1835 Mexican General Mariano Vallejo was ordered to colonize the area. Chief Sem Yeto (Chief Solano) received a land grant known as Suisun Rancho in 1837, but later sold it to Vallejo after a devastating smallpox epidemic.
Sea captain Robert Waterman founded Fairfield in 1856, naming it after his Connecticut hometown and laying out the town with his wife Cordelia. Waterman offered land for the county seat; voters moved the seat from Benicia to Fairfield in 1858. Fairfield incorporated in 1903.
World War II transformed Fairfield when the Army built the Fairfield–Suisun Air Base (now Travis Air Force Base) in 1942. The base became a major employer and spurred population growth; it was annexed to the city in 1966.
Today Fairfield is one of the Bay Area’s most diverse communities, centrally located between San Francisco and Sacramento with good transportation, affordable housing and access to wine country, Napa Valley and Suisun Valley. We’re proud to serve this dynamic city.