Florin is a town of about 50,000 in the San Joaquin Valley. Located about 20 minutes southwest of Downtown Sacramento, the town has easy access to Highway 99 and the Lincoln Highway/Route 50.
The population only grew to this size in the 2000s. Before that, the agricultural feel was even stronger. At the beginning of the 1900s, farming was the primary source of work for town residents. Strawberries were and remain a popular crop to grow. With smart solutions to bringing in water, Japanese immigrants were mostly responsible for turning the once barren, dry lands into profitable fields. However, World War II changed the demographics. Today, the area is quite diverse. Some families have been around for decades, while others have recently moved in.
Many of the residents live on the western side of town, near Stockton Boulevard. There are condos, apartment buildings, and single-family homes concentrated on the streets between Gerber Road and Florin Road. Further east, there are more developments, including Florintown, Byer-Knight, and French Road Estates. As you approach Elk Grove Florin Road, things do open up quite a bit, with farms and fields becoming more common sights.
In terms of shopping, Florin has a lot of resources. Some larger shopping centers are situated along Florin Road, Stockton Boulevard, Gerber Road, and Elk Grove Florin Road. These centers have grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, gas stations, restaurants, and retail stores. You can find nearly anything within the town. There is a good mix of family-run eateries and larger chains. There are a number of restaurants featuring food from all over the world.
For families living in Florin, there are several schools in town. Florin Elementary School is where most of the younger children go, and David Reese is another option. James Rutter Middle School is located in the center of town, with William Taylor High School being closer to Highway 99 on the west side of Florin. These schools are part of the Elk Grove District, and some Florin students are bussed into neighboring towns for schools that better suit their needs. The public schools do offer many extracurricular activities, so many families are kept busy during the school year.
For general recreation, there are several spots in Florin that have some gathering places and fields for playing ball. Rutter Park has a playground, soccer field, and picnic area, and it's adjacent to the public pool at the Rutter Swim Center. Since the summer temperatures do get quite warm, having access to a community pool can make the heat more bearable. Towards the west side of Florin, there are more acres of green space. Sheldon Park has tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a soccer field, and a playground. Woody Hampton Park is just across Orange Avenue, and it has more open space for pick-up soccer games. The Daylor Sports Field, another place that's busy with youth sports on weekends, is also in this neighborhood.
As mentioned, the summers in Florin are hot and dry. Highs regularly reach into the 90s, and they're sometimes above the century mark. Lows get down below 60 degrees and occasionally dip below 50 degrees. Rain is an infrequent occurrence in the summer, with maybe a day of rain over the whole season.
Most of the precipitation in Florin falls between late November and March. Some rainstorms can dump several inches. During these times, highs are usually in the 50 to 60-degree range, with lows in the high 30s. There is a chance of frost and freezing during the winter, which is something that the farmers need to watch carefully. Fog is another factor that needs to be taken into consideration. Tule fog settles in the Central Valley of California, and it can be very thick. The fog can trap moisture and cold air, and when this happens, temperatures typically stay under 50 degrees.
Given this type of climate, Florin residents have to think about what kind of grass would work well on their lawns. St. Augustine is a type that does well in hot, dry conditions and becomes dormant in the winter. Bermudagrass does well in the summer also, but it doesn't do so well in the winter or in shady spots. For this reason, it's often used in combination with other types of grass, such as tall fescue or perennial ryegrass. If you would like professional assistance in taking care of your lawn, Lawn Love is here to help. Contact us today for premium lawn care services in and around Florin.
