Redding, California is the county seat of Shasta County in upstate California. Located on the Sacramento River and on Interstate 5 south of Shasta Lake, Redding is the largest city north of Sacramento, as well as the northernmost designated metropolitan area and city with over 100,000 people in California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 80,865. As of the most recent annexations, the population is approximately 104,295. Both Redding and its neighbor to the south, Red Bluff, are popular with tourists who use the cities as bases to explore Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lake Shasta, and other natural attractions.

Situated along the Siskiyou Trail, an ancient trade and travel route connecting California's Central Valley and the Pacific Northwest, the site of Redding was occupied by Native Americans of the Wintu tribe from about the year 1000. During the early 1800s, Hudson's Bay Company trappers and members of the United States Exploring Expedition passed through the site of Redding, while traveling along the Siskiyou Trail. The first non-native settler in the area was Pierson B. Reading, an early California pioneer. Reading was an admirer of John Sutter, and in 1844, Reading received a Mexican land grant for the area occupied by today's Redding and Cottonwood, California, along the Sacramento River. At the time it was (by over 100 miles) the northernmost non-native settlement in California.

Later, when the Southern Pacific Railroad built its rail line through the Sacramento Valley, it decided to route the tracks through an area with the inauspicious name of Poverty Flats and what was to become the town of Redding was born. Named by the Southern Pacific for railroad man Benjamin B. Redding, the town was rechristened "Reading" in 1874, to honor local pioneer Pierson B. Reading. However, the railroad would not recognize the change, and the original name, Redding, was restored in 1880.

Redding incorporated in 1887 with 600 people. By 1910, Redding had a population of 3,572 supported by a significant mineral extraction industry, principally copper and iron. However, with the decline of these industries, which also produced significant amounts of pollution damaging to local agriculture, the population dropped to 2,962 in 1920. By 1930 the population had recovered to 4,188 and then boomed during the 1930's with the construction of nearby Shasta Dam.

In the 1950s the city continued to grow with the expansion of the lumber industry, the building of Whiskeytown and Keswick Dams, and the completion of Interstate 5 in the late 1960s. In the 1970s, the area of Enterprise on the eastern bank of the Sacramento River was annexed into Redding immediately increasing the city to around 35,000, and bringing the total population to 41,995 as Enterprise residents were attracted by the lower cost of electricity from the Redding dam. As the lumber industry and housing construction plummeted during the 1973-75 recession and with the increase in environmental regulation the city had to shift economic gears once again. In recent decades an influx of retirees from Southern California seeking affordable housing and a slower pace of life has again picked up the pace of population growth.

Today, Redding, CA offers a delightful mix of culture, outdoor activities and history. In 2004, the Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay was completed; the dramatic pedestrian span was designed by noted Spanish architect-engineer-artist Santiago Calatrava and links the north and south campuses of the 300 acre Turtle Bay Exploration Park. The park, located along the banks of the Sacramento River, contains a museum and 20-acre gardens. The campus features permanent and changing exhibitions that relate to art, history, horticulture, forestry and natural science. The historic Cascade Theatre, opened in 1935, has been restored and now operates as a multi-use Performing Arts center. The theatre is a shining example of Art Deco architecture of the period. It is listed on the California Register of Historic Resources and on the National Register of Historic Places. The Cascade Theatre was also the recipient of Art Deco Society of California Preservation Award on March 18, 2000.

An interesting and unique site in Redding that will fascinate baseball fans of all ages and sizes, the Big League Dreams Sports Park, features exact 3/4 replicas of three major league ball parks: Boston's Fenway Park, Chicago's Wrigley Field, and New York's Yankee Stadium.

Redding is also a great launching point for outdoor adventures. Located just eight miles west of Redding, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area sits at the juncture of the Klamath Mountain range and the northern edge of the Sacramento Valley, making it home to a special collection of animal and plant life. Some of the park’s features are Whiskeytown Lake, Shasta Bally (6,209 ft.) and numerous waterfalls, providing outdoor enthusiasts opportunities for water recreation, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Lake-based recreation is highly popular during the drier summer months. Whiskeytown Lake provides 36 miles of shoreline and 3,200 surface acres for recreation. Its placid surface is excellent for swimming, scuba diving, kayaking, rowing and fishing. Sailing, water skiing and boating are also popular.

For more information on activities in and around Redding, California, visit:

• Visit Redding
• City of Redding, CA
• Shasta County, CA
• Redding Chamber of Commerce
• Redding, CA Real Estate Summary on IDCide
• Redding, CA Google Earth Map
• View Redding, CA Area Jobs on Career Builder
• View Redding, CA Area Jobs on Yahoo HotJobs
• Redding, California on Wikipedia.com
• Redding, California on epodunk

For more information on activities in and around Rural Upstate California Region, including Shasta County, California, visit:

• Upstate California
• Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
• Lassen Volcanic National Park
• Shasta Dam and Lake Shasta Info
• Turtle Bay Exploration Park
• Mt. Shasta Ski Park
• Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
• The State of California

Redding Homes, Properties and Special Feature Real Estate

Redding, California real estate includes a wide variety of homes for sale, condos for sale, water access properties (waterfront or scenic view), active adult communities, hobby farms and executive properties. Sellers who have been in the area for a while know my reputation for knowledgeable advice, enthusiastic service, creative marketing and professional networking. My associates and I will mine every source for suitable properties so you can feel at ease that your search will produce the right kind of solution for you.

For buyers new to the area, you can rest assured that I will provide the specialized services you deserve: a strong work ethic, personal real estate expertise to help define your needs, help with selecting and securing standard financing for your purchase, special technology, constant communication throughout the transaction, and more. I’ve gained a proud reputation for providing superior benefits to my home-buying clients as I help them complete their search - from existing homes for sale, properties for sale, lots, vacant land, new construction, 55-plus and retirement communities, investment properties, waterfront, golf and recreational properties, golf course lots - all the way to luxury villas, estates and executive homes.

So when you're ready to buy or sell real estate in or around Redding, California, please let Rod Pierson help you find the home or property of your dreams. Contact Rod Pierson today!

Other nearby communities have similar real estate characteristics as Redding and may also be of interest to you in your home search. Please feel free to ask Rod Pierson about homes for sale, lakeside/riverside properties and other real estate listings for nearby communities, such as Redding, Anderson, Cottonwood, Palo Cedro, Millville, Lake California, Bella Vista, Shingletown, Shasta County, Whiskeytown, Lakehead, Burney, Fall River Mills, Shasta Lake City, Lake Shasta, Tehama County, Trinity County, French Gulch, Weaverville, Happy Valley and much more.

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