Tides & Towns
San Francisco Bay · CA

Benicia

California's capital for a year, on Carquinez Strait.

Population
27,131 (2020 census)
Founded
1847
State capital
1853–1854
Tides
Two highs, two lows, uneven

Then

  1. 1847

    Robert Semple, Thomas Larkin and Mariano Vallejo found the town, named for Vallejo's wife, Francisca Benicia.

  2. 1853

    Benicia becomes the state capital for a year.

  3. 1879

    A railroad ferry begins crossing the strait to Port Costa, until the bridge opens in 1930.

  4. 1960–1964

    The Army's Benicia Arsenal closes and becomes an industrial park.

Now

The old capitol is the only surviving building of California's pre-Sacramento capitols. This place includes Martinez and Crockett across the strait.

On the water

From NOAA's predictions for Benicia, CA over the next 365 days. Heights are in feet above mean lower low water (MLLW).

Pattern
Two highs and two lows a day, one noticeably bigger than the other
Typical daily range
5.1 ft
Biggest swing
7.3 ft on Dec 24
Smallest swing
2.0 ft on Nov 15
Highest high
6.7 ft, Jul 4 at 1:05 AM
Lowest low
−0.7 ft, Jan 22 at 8:13 PM

3 tide stations around Benicia

Sources