[13] Davis sits on land that was historically inhabited by Indigenous people associated with the Clovis culture.

The Patwin were killed or forced from their lands by the 1830s as part of the California Genocide through a combination of mass murders, smallpox and other diseases, and both Mexican and American systems of Indigenous slavery.

[17] After the killing and expulsion of the Patwin, territory that eventually became Davis emerged from one of California's most complicated ranchos, Laguna de Santos Callé.

[21] From its inception as a farming community, Davis is known primarily for its contributions to agricultural policy along with veterinary care and animal husbandry.

[22] The farm, later renamed the Northern Branch of the College of Agriculture in 1922, was upgraded to become the seventh UC general campus, the University of California, Davis, in 1959.

Winter temperatures generally reach between 45 and 65 °F (7 and 18 °C) in the afternoon; nights average at about 35 to 40 °F (2 to 4 °C), but occasionally fall below freezing.

As in other areas of Northern California, the tule fog is a leading cause of road accidents in the winter season.

[25] Davis is internally divided by two freeways (Interstate 80 and State Route 113), a north–south railroad (California Northern), an east–west mainline (Union Pacific) and several major streets.

The land occupied by the university is not incorporated within the boundaries of the city of Davis and lies within both Yolo and Solano Counties.

Energy use in buildings decreased dramatically and in 1981 Davis citizens won a $100,000 prize from utility PG&E, for cutting electricity use during the summer peak.

The aim is to reflect more sunlight back into space via the albedo effect, and reduce the amount of heat absorbed in hopes of limiting climate change.

[36] In 2020 the racial demographics[37] were as follows: 53.6% White 2.3% Black 13.8% Hispanic or Latino 23.3% Asian 1.1% Native American 9.6% two or more races The 2010 United States census[38] reported that Davis had a population of 65,622.

Bicycle infrastructure became a political issue in the 1960s, culminating in the election of a pro-bicycle majority to the City Council in 1966.

[49] In 2005, the Bicycle-Friendly Community program of the League of American Bicyclists recognized Davis as the first Platinum Level city in the US[50][51] Bicycling appears to be declining among Davis residents: from 1990 to 2000, the US Census Bureau reported a decline in the fraction of commuters traveling by bicycle, from 22 percent to 15 percent.

[54] A continuous stream of bands, speakers and various workshops occurs throughout Mother's Day weekend on each of Whole Earth Festival's (WEF) three stages and other specialty areas.

Picnic Day is an annual event at the University of California, Davis and is always held on the third Saturday in April.

the Doxie Derby, held in the Pavilion; the Davis Rock Challenge, the Chemistry Magic Show, and the sheep dog trials.

A free Davis Art Walk map serves as a detailed guide to the entire collection.

The museum has generated nationwide attention with exhibits by artists such as Wayne Thiebaud, Bruce Nauman, John Cage, and Robert Arneson as well as its striking architecture, featuring a 50,000 square-foot “Grand Canopy” of perforated aluminum triangular beams, supported by 40 steel columns.

The museum is free and hosts lecture series and events throughout the year, as well as weekend art studio activities for all ages.

The Mondavi Center is a theater which hosts many world-class touring acts, including star performers such as Yo-Yo Ma, Yitzhak Perlman and Wynton Marsalis, and draws a large audience from Sacramento.

Consisting of 14 polyurethane foam-insulated fiberglass domes and located in the Sustainable Research Area at the western end of Orchard Road, it is governed by its 26 UCD student residents.

It is one of the few student co-housing cooperative communities in the US, and is an early example of the modern-day growing tiny house movement.

Participants sell a range of fruits and vegetables, baked goods, dairy and meat products (often from certified organic farms), crafts, and plants and flowers.

From April to October, the market hosts Picnic in the Park, with musical events and food sold from restaurant stands.

UC Davis also has a weekly newspaper called The California Aggie that covers campus, local and national news.

[59] Davis' Toad Tunnel is a wildlife crossing that was constructed in 1995 and has drawn much attention over the years, including a mention on The Daily Show.

After much controversy, a decision was made to build a toad tunnel, which runs beneath the Pole Line Road overpass which crosses Interstate 80.

The satellite is located in West Village, an area built by UC Davis to house students and others affiliated with the university.

[62] At one time, Chavez and Willett were incorporated together to provide elementary education K–6 to both English-speaking and Spanish immersion students in West Davis.