[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 93 (Monday, June 23, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1323-E1324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO CITY OF RANCHO CORDOVA, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 23, 2003

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to the city of Rancho 
Cordova, California and its dedicated citizens. On July 1, 2003, Rancho 
Cordova will officially be incorporated and become California's newest 
municipality. I ask all my colleagues to join with me in wishing the 
city of Rancho Cordova the best of luck as it embarks on an exciting 
and promising future.
  The modern history of Rancho Cordova began in 1846, when William 
Alexander Leidesdorf settled in his newly acquired 35,500-acre domain, 
the Rancho Rio de los Americanos. Within a few years, the massive flow 
of gold seekers, the FortyNiners, en route to the gold fields, would 
come to identify the area as Hangtown Crossing. In the 1870s, the 
construction of gristmills brought a new wave of residents to the area. 
These residents would eventually abandon the name of Hangtown Crossing 
for the more prosaic name of Mills Station.

[[Page E1324]]

  In the 1950s, postal officials and local vineyard owner, Ronald S. 
Federspiel, met to determine a new name for the area. In the years 
before, a great number of homebuyers related to the name, Rancho 
Cordova, since it was the name of their new neighborhood. When the 
postal officials and Mr. Federspiel discovered that the name fit 
perfectly on a stamp, the name Rancho Cordova was officially adopted.
  In 1950, Aerojet General Corporation, developers of rocket fuels and 
space engines, choose Rancho Cordova as its home base. Subsequently, 
Mather Air Force Base, with the only navigation and electronic warfare 
training wing in the U.S.; McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft, missiles and 
space systems test center; PMI Manufacturers, Pittsburg Des Moines 
Steel Co., and many smaller industries would come to call Rancho 
Cordova home.
  In many regards, Rancho Cordova already features some of the 
essential traits of a well-established city. By comparison, the city's 
population of approximately 57,000 is bigger than Santa Cruz, Fountain 
Valley, or San Rafael. In the Sacramento region, the only cities with 
greater populations are Sacramento, Davis, Roseville, Citrus Heights, 
and Elk Grove. Furthermore, Rancho Cordova is already the home to an 
impressive and growing list of businesses; Bank of America, Aerojet 
Industries, MCI, and Delta Dental, just to name a few. With another 
55,000 jobs projected in the next decade, Rancho Cordova is well on its 
way to becoming one of the most important cities in the Sacramento 
region.
  During the nearly two-decade drive to cityhood, the community leaders 
and citizens of Rancho Cordova displayed remarkable dedication, 
determination, and civic pride in ultimately achieving their goal. 
Judging from its citizens overwhelming commitment to promote and serve 
the best interest of the city, I have every confidence that Rancho 
Cordova will continue to achieve and realize greater goals and 
ambitions in the future.
  Mr. Speaker, as the city of Rancho Cordova celebrates its cityhood; I 
am honored to welcome this vibrant community into our growing region. 
Rancho Cordova's future is bright and limitless. I ask all of my 
colleagues to join with me in wishing the city of Rancho Cordova 
continued success in all its future endeavors.

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