Daily Alta California, Volume 1, Number 104, 30 April 1850
REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE
On the Derivation and Definition
of the Names of the several Counties
of the State of California, &c.
SACRAMENTO. — Signifies Sacrament, or Lord’s Supper. The streams known as Feather and Sacramento rivers, were first respectively named by Lieutenant Moraga ”Sacramento” and Jesus Maria, but the latter now assumes the name of Sacramento, whilst the former is called Feather. Sacramento is the principal river in all that section of country, and gives name to the county. Several towns are springing up, but the chief one of the county is Sacramento city, situated on the eastern bank of the Sacramento. This rapidly growing and flourishing town, containing a permanent population of twelve thousand inhabitants, has sprung up in the short space of a year. It contains, besides, multitudes of transient residents, constantly going to and from the “Placers;” steamboats and numerous vessels of light and heavy draught are safely moored immediately abreast of the town.