About This Book

Completed in 1998, the City of Davis is pleased to make available an unedited draft of a book on Davis' recent history by local writer and journalist Mike Fitch.

The book concept was proposed by the Davis City Council as part of Davis' 75th anniversary of incorporation in 1992. The Council requested that the Historical Resources Management Commission oversee the selection of a writer who would prepare a book on changes in Davis since 1969 -- when Davisville '68, The History and Heritage of the City of Davis by Joann Leach Larkey was published in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of Davisville.

Mike Fitch was engaged as author in 1994. He spent numerous hours researching, interviewing and writing thoughtful chapters on an array of topics that were chosen by Mike for their importance to the community's future vision of itself. The book is organized thematically around social, educational and planning issues that have engaged the community over the 30 years since the publication of Davisville '68.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 – "The Dawn of an Era: The Way It Was"

Chapter 2 – "The Election of 1972—A Political Watershed"

Chapter 3 – "The Meyer Era at UC Davis"

Chapter 4 – "Village Homes—Pioneers in a Changing Era"

Chapter 5 – "An Army of Volunteers to Serve the Needy"

Chapter 6 – "Mace Ranch: A Disturbing Challenge"

Chapter 7 – "Growth—The Great Conundrum"

Chapter 8 – "Tales of an Overpass, Underpass, and Interchanges"

Chapter 9 – "The Downtown Area: Keeping Suburban Malls at Bay"

Chapter 10 – "The Political Culture of Davis"

Footnotes