Rural Roots Sunday - My Elk Grove Rural Roots
In 1980 my family and I moved to the Sheldon area from the San Fernando Valley. It was a refreshing change from the hustle and bustle of city life.
"…The Rural Area is valued in our community for its aesthetic and cultural significance, as well as the economic and educational opportunities that agriculture provides. Our commitment to maintaining the Rural Area is clear and codified in core planning documents…" Elk Grove General Plan, December 2025.
In 1980 my family and I moved to the Sheldon area from the San Fernando Valley. It was a refreshing change from the hustle and bustle of city life. Having grown up in a small town in Southern California (1947 population 2500 people) was a wonderful life. Horse stable three blocks from my house, walking to school through orange and lemon orchards, people caring about each other with a real sense of community.
We found this when we moved to Sheldon. I wanted my children to have the enjoyment of not living in a neighborhood where the 7th neighbor down said God Bless You, when you sneezed.
My children soon realized that it takes work to live on property. We first built a barn. They pounded nails and helped to paint. Next came the swimming pool, minus a diving board but a compromise of a large diving rock and slide. Our next-door neighbor introduced himself as soon as he saw we had dogs like his (Australian Shepherds). He was a few years older than our daughter. His first comment was “You need to meet my neat 4-H leader”. That began a 30-year career in 4-H. One of the most enjoyable things I have done over the years. The 4H still has the best teen leadership development program of any organization I know.
We planted fruit trees and planted a garden every year. Our Rangeview 4-H cooking project did everything from making jam, to bottling root beer and making pickles.
When the proposal that Elk Grove become a city failed twice, we realized just how seriously the community was willing to preserve our roots.
West of US99 started to develop more and the community worried that we would lose our identity. In March 2000 cityhood was approved but the rural community spoke strongly to preserve our rural areas from future development. This has stayed strong until now.
The developer putting forth this rezone has created many problems for himself and the city for more than 20 years. Now he wants to take precious rural land and turn it into a suburban development not consistent with the long-standing Elk Grove General plan.
I worry that the planning commission and city council which each is made up of 1 rural representative and 4 urban representatives will amend the General Plan because they don’t care enough to support our rural community.
I hope they will take the time or have taken the time to get to know the rural community and what it stands for.
Please save our rural roots.
Nikki Carpenter-Howell
