Although other counties will experience higher absolute population increases, Solano County will have the highest percentage increase in population of any county in the Bay Area between 2000 and 2030. Solano's population will increase by 46 percent, or nearly 183,000 residents, by 2030.

Growth is projected to be clustered in three major centers: Fairfield, Vacaville, and Vallejo. These three areas will account for nearly three-quarters of the county's 62,970 new households. Fairfield will have the most growth, with 16,190 new households. Vacaville will add 15,250 households, and Vallejo 14,890. Rio Vista will see the most dramatic change of the cities in Solano County. In fact, Rio Vista is expected to have the largest percentage increase in its population of any city in the entire region between 2000 to 2015, or 229 percent.

Elsewhere in the county, Dixon, the city in the region closest to Sacramento, is expected to continue to grow. The number of households in Dixon is expected to more than double between 2000 and 2030-one of the highest growth rates in the Bay Area. Fairfield, Suisun City, Vacaville, and Vallejo will continue to experience significant growth, while Benicia's population and households will grow at a relatively low rate.

Development Pattern

Solano County is extremely rich in agricultural lands and other natural resources. According to the state Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program, the county contains almost 50 percent of the region's important farmland and more than half of the region's wetlands.

Although once predominantly a rural county, Solano is urbanizing-primarily as a result of housing production. Although housing development predominates in Solano, the county has also seen significant growth in retail, bringing sales tax revenue to several of its cities. The cities of Fairfield and Vacaville, in particular, have been successful in drawing regional sales tax generators to their communities, primarily along Interstate 80.

Another factor related to Solano's urbanization has been its location for military bases. The communities of Fairfield and Vacaville have benefited from the commitment to and investment in Travis Air Force Base. Although now closed as a military base, the city of Vallejo awaits the positive impact that development on the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard is anticipated to have.

Solano County considers itself a leader in terms of channeling growth. In 1984, Solano County voters adopted Proposition A, which directs future growth to the incorporated areas of the county. Ten years later, Proposition A was extended to 2010 as the "Orderly Growth Initiative." A countywide effort also is under way to preserve open space by maintaining urban separators between adjacent jurisdictions.

Projected Growth in Solano County

Since the adoption of policy-based projections, Solano's population forecast is based on a conceptual growth pattern that may be different from existing local general plans and zoning. In order to close the gap between jobs and housing in Solano County, some additional employment opportunities for county residents are expected.

Employment growth is expected to occur in the downtowns of Vallejo (including adjacent Mare Island), Benicia, Fairfield, Suisun City, Vacaville, and Dixon. Moderate employment growth will also continue along the Interstate 80 corridor beginning in Vallejo, and extending up through Vacaville and Dixon.

There is potential to develop three- and four-story commercial buildings along portions of the Interstate 80 corridor and mixed-use development around Capitol Corridor rail stations. Transportation improvements include the creation of two new Capitol Corridor stations, one adjacent to Travis Air Force Base and another in Dixon.

This pattern of development preserves Solano County's strong agricultural industry and character by focusing development within its incorporated cities. Significant household and employment growth is expected to occur in the downtowns of Vallejo (including adjacent Mare Island), Benicia, Fairfield, Suisun City, Vacaville, and Dixon.