IMPORTANT NOTE: The City of Davis recognizes that Indigenous Peoples and local communities have been stewards, protectors and conservators of these lands and trees, guided by deep connections to nature, place and culture, before anyone else. What is listed on this page is not complete and we understand that more work needs to be done to involve people and partners whose lives, livelihoods and history are linked to the environment and lands we are overseeing. The City continues to learn and grow in how we show up as authentic, respectful and effective custodians of this land. If you have suggestions or comments, please send them to the City’s Urban Forestry Manager at citytrees@cityofdavis.org.

The Sacramento Valley region, which includes Davis, was historically dominated by grassland habitat interspersed with various communities of oak and riparian forest. The Davis area is thought to have been similarly dominated by a mix of grassland, oak woodlands, and communities of other native trees, including coast live oak, willow, cottonwood, box elder, California sycamore, and walnut. These trees, along buckeyes and pine trees were used by the Patwin Indigenous people for food, shelter, and other needs. 

The Patwin tended and harvested the plant life here with a sophisticated and sustainable system of land management practices. Acorns were central to everyday life in Patwin villages for thousands of years. The acorns were ground-up on rocks by the creek, or using a mortar and pestle. By pouring water over the acorn flour, the tannins were leached out and the bitter taste was removed. Ground acorn was a staple of the Patwin diet and together with meat and a variety of other plants, was part of a balanced diet. Acorn granaries were used to store acorns throughout the year. 

In addition, the Patwin used a variety of land management practices, such as using fire to clear underbrush and prevent larger fires, seeds for food and medicine and coppicing to stimulate new growth and create strong root systems. 

The village of Putah-Toi was once a thriving Patwin village where the present-day City of Davis now stands. The untrained eye of the first European visitors likely missed the sophisticated and sustainable system of land management practices that went on there for thousands of years. By 1833, Putah-Toi had been decimated by disease and no Patwin were left there. 

The City of Davis occupies land belonging to three federally recognized Patwin Tribes. Learn more about each of these Tribes:
Cachil DeHe Band of Wintun Indians of the Colusa Indian Community
Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation 
Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation 

Development drastically changed trees in the Sacramento Valley region. Agricultural and landscape tree species were introduced and trees were planted in the developed areas. Explore the following timeline to learn more about how Davis’ urban forest has changed over time:

• 1842: More coming soon...

• 1850s: Numerous olive, walnut, almond, fig, and other fruit trees were established in the region. 

• 1858: Jerome Davis, from which Davisville gets its name, won an award for his development of numerous new tree varieties. His large farm, which existed on land now occupied by UC Davis, included a nursery of an estimated 65,000 trees.

• 1868: Davisville was founded and included tree-lined city streets and streets named after trees (e.g., olive, ash, cherry, elm, laurel, oak, pine, and plum) (2002 CTMP). The town saw a boost in growth and economic opportunity when it became a stop along the California Pacific Railroad.

• 1870: An orchard of 20,000 mulberry trees was planted to produce silk. Unfortunately, an extreme heat wave in the same year killed all the silkworms and marked the end of silk production for the area. 

• 1871: The Davisville orchard included several acres of fruit trees, including figs, pomegranates, cherries, plums, and peaches. The orchard industry, in addition to agriculture, became  significant to Davisville.

• 1879: California State Legislation helped pay for roadside tree plantings, some of which were planted by Hugh M. LaRue in the Davis area (2002 CTMP).

• 1907: University of California State Farm was established and includes tree-lined campus streets  (2002 CTMP).

• 1910-1920: Street trees were planted throughout Yolo County by the Yolo County Farm Bureau members and volunteer organizations. “In Davis, the Women’s Improvement Club sought to preserve and protect existing ornamental and shade trees and to promote community beautification and improvements.” (Davis 2002 CTMP).

• 1930s: Central Park was established “Bob Nash, a volunteer in the City, was involved in the planting and maintenance of the sycamore grove” (2002 CTMP).

• 1934: One hundred acres of John Wolskill’s original orchard were bestowed to UC Davis

• 1962: UC Davis Arboretum’s Shields Oak Grove established (see this interactive Story Map for a timeline of the Arboretum). University of California State Farm became University of California at Davis.

• 1963: The City of Davis Urban Forestry Program was established together with the Street Tree Committee (now known as the Tree Commission). (City of Davis) The Committee volunteered to create an inventory of public and private trees and established the first Landmark Tree List, which “included approximately one hundred trees that were the largest or oldest trees of historical interest, distinctive form, or otherwise outstanding specimens.” (2002 CTMP). Ordinance 300 was adopted by City Council relating to the "planting, care and removal of trees, shrubs and plans in or which overhang the streets of the City of Davis; providing for the issuing of permits therewith; [and] prescribing penalties for the violations."

• 1968: A plaque was created and placed on the UC Davis campus, commemorating large native oaks once used to mark the border of a large farm in the 1800s. The plaque was placed near two fig trees and two olive trees from the same period, which at the time were 110 years old.

• 1969: Walnut trees on Russell Boulevard between Highway 113 and Road 9 were designated as an “Outstanding Historical Resource” by the City and protected as outlined in the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties (Davis CTMP).

• 1977: Davis became a ‘Tree City USA’ and received national recognition for its street tree program from the National Arbor Day Foundation.

• 1992: Non-profit Tree Davis was founded and, from this year forward, advocated for and expanded the urban forest through volunteer-supported planting efforts, local partnerships, and educational programs on trees.

• 2000: The City of Davis adopted the Tree Planting, Preservation and Protection Ordinance. The Ordinance established regulations for tree planting and preservation, as well as the protection of City trees, Landmark Trees, Trees of Significance, Parking Lot Trees, and certain private trees.   

• 2002: The City of Davis Community Forest Management Plan was published. This Plan, developed by City staff, the Tree Commission, and a consultant, established the framework for tree-related management issues. The Plan also recommended the creation of a City Arborist (or professional Urban Forester), a position now called the Urban Forestry Manager.

• 2003: Research studies by Maco and McPherson estimated city street trees provided around 5% canopy in relation to all land cover (Assessed canopy cover over streets and sidewalks in street tree populations)

  • There were an estimated 23,810 (±1,396) city street trees throughout the community in their article A practical approach to assessing structure, function, and value of street tree populations in small communities. They also report:

  • London plane (Platanus x acerifolia) was the most common species and exceeded 10% of the total street tree population.

  • When looking at the community in zones, it is common to see a high percentage of individual species. 

  • Some species were heavily planted at certain time periods and then phased out.

  • $1.7 million in benefits to property values and environmental benefits including carbon sequestration, air quality, and stormwater runoff and reducing energy demand ($406,101 in environmental benefits to carbon sequestration, air quality, and stormwater runoff).

• 2006: The Tree Commission enabling resolution was modified by the City Council to include: the review and approval or denial of tree removal requests; to hear appeals regarding public nuisances relating to trees and tree modification permit applications; and the review and recommendations to City Council for the consideration of or removal of Landmark Tree designations.

• 2008: A series of storms took out trees and resulted in days without power across the City. A small funeral was held for the landmark foothill/gray pine tree in Mansion Square when it was removed because of a severe tilt that caused safety concerns

• 2009: UC Davis was named a “Tree Campus USA”

• 2017-19: The community recognized and expressed concern over the impact of disease, pests, severe storm events and other changes in climate on the aging forest (Shor 2019).

• 2019: City of Davis receives a Tree City USA Growth Award from the Arbor Day Foundation for demonstrating high-level tree care and community engagement 

Today (2022), the City of Davis is famous as an agricultural hub, a leader in providing green belt linkages between parks, open spaces and key built components of the City, and is home to one of the top-rated agricultural colleges in the nation. Davis has a robust urban forest thanks to a passionate community, dedicated non-profit, and the amount of attention and value the City has put towards their urban forestry program. Davis has held the Tree City USA designation by the National Arbor Day Foundation for 34 years, only surpassed in California by one year in Burbank and Sacramento. Today the City of Davis and their collaborators are leading the way in urban forestry innovation with their climate-ready tree program. 

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