Williams has a small-town feel surrounded by agriculture
The small city of Williams is located in the Sacramento Valley, a rural area where almond orchards, pecan trees and rice fields thrive. Home to approximately 5,600, the community offers a small-town feel, from Main Street-style shopping to a slower pace of life. The city’s price points, compared to communities closer to Sacramento, also appeal to newcomers. “It’s more affordable than a lot of places further south, and it’s right off of Interstate 5, so it’s easy for commuting,” says Realtor Colleen Wrysinski, who works with Keller Williams Realty Gold Country and has over two decades of experience in the area.
Granzella's, La Fortuna Bakery and more local businesses
An arch with the city’s name rises over E Street, Williams’ Main Street-style retail district. This central area covers several blocks of local businesses, including Granzella's, a mainstay for about 50 years. “Granzella’s is a very popular restaurant, family-owned and operated; it’s been there for decades,” Wrysinski says. The eatery serves Italian American dishes in a rustic setting that features polar bear taxidermy. Across the street, Granzella's Gourmet & Gifts has wine and home decor. Many of the other dining options have Mexican food, including the casual seafood spot Mariscos El Rodeo and La Fortuna Bakery, a no-frills stop for pan dulce. Other shops range from the vintage specialist Garrison's to Rancho Viejo Western Wear, which sells cowboy-style clothes. Grocery Outlet and Shop N' Save Market both provide groceries.
Ranch-style houses, contemporary homes and multiacre properties in Williams
Outside its retail district, Williams is composed of walkable, grid-style blocks of single-family homes. Lawns are often landscaped with fencing, boxwood shrubs and succulents. The area has many midcentury ranch-style homes, ranging from $380,000 to $610,000. Williams also offers subdivisions of contemporary homes, especially on the suburban east side of the city. They range between $300,000 and $500,000. Multiacre properties on the outskirts of the community range from $710,000 for 2 acres to $3.8 million for over 360 acres of farmland. In the countryside surrounding Williams there are panoramic views of the Coastal Mountain Range above open fields.
Recreation areas, including Northview Park and Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area
In northwest Williams, Northview Park has a playground, a basketball court and picnic pavilions. About 10 miles east of the city, Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area has a boat launch and fishing. “East Park Reservoir in Stonyford has boating and off-highway vehicles and motorcycle trails that people like to go to,” Wrysinski says. This recreation site also offers kayaking and a disc golf course about 30 miles away from Williams.
Public schools from Williams Primary Elementary to Williams Junior Senior High
Williams Primary Elementary School, which serves kindergarten through third grade, has a C-minus rating on Niche. Williams Upper Elementary School serves fourth grade through sixth grade and scores a C-minus. Williams Junior Senior High School has a C-plus rating. The high school’s unique course catalog includes zoology and botany, agriculture soil chemistry and Chicano studies, a class about historic Mexican Americans. For higher education, the Colusa County campus of Woodland Community College is located in the northeast section of Williams.
Williams' history at Pioneer Day and Sacramento Valley Museum
In early June, Williams celebrates the annual Pioneer Day, a tradition themed around the community’s history. It has a parade and a vendor fair. Williams also honors local history with the Sacramento Valley Museum, located on the west side of the city.
A 35-mile commute to Yuba City and more transportation
Via Interstate 5, Williams is about 35 miles from Yuba City. The community is about 60 miles to downtown Sacramento on the same route. For public transportation, Colusa County Transit Agency provides bus services. Sacramento International Airport, the closest major airport, is about 50 miles away.
