by Sara Beth Williams–
As Citrus Heights prepares to mark the 30th anniversary of its incorporation, the Citrus Heights Historical Society is planning an evening presentation featuring a panel of seven people who played key roles in the effort to establish the city.
The presentation is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m. at Citrus Heights City Hall. Admission is free, and light refreshments will be served.
The event will give attendees an opportunity to hear firsthand accounts from individuals who participated in the effort to make Citrus Heights an incorporated city.
According to the Historical Society, the incorporation effort involved a 10-year battle between a grassroots organization known as the Citrus Heights Incorporation Project, or CHIP, and Sacramento County, which opposed the community’s bid for cityhood.
The Historical Society described the effort as a David-versus-Goliath struggle, with the small, underfunded local organization facing the county’s legal resources in an effort that eventually reached the United States Supreme Court.
Seven key participants in the cityhood effort are expected to share their stories during the presentation, offering a look back at the people, challenges and events that helped shape Citrus Heights.
The presentation comes ahead of the 30th anniversary of Citrus Heights becoming a city. Voters approved incorporation in 1996, and the city officially incorporated on Jan. 1, 1997.
The Citrus Heights Historical Society is inviting community members to attend and learn more about the local history behind the city’s formation.
