Fairfield is a city in and the county seat of Solano County, in Northern California, situated along Interstate 80 where Interstate 680 terminates. With a population of 119,881 at the 2020 census, it is one of the largest cities in the county and a central hub between the San Francisco Bay Area and the Sacramento Valley, lying roughly 45 miles from both downtown San Francisco and the State Capitol. The city was founded in 1856 by clipper ship captain Robert H. Waterman, who named it for his former hometown of Fairfield, Connecticut, and it secured the Solano County seat in 1858. Its modern economy is diversified across government, manufacturing, healthcare, and retail, with Travis Air Force Base, a major Air Mobility Command installation, and the Jelly Belly Candy Company among its most recognizable institutions. Anheuser-Busch and Clorox also operate facilities in the area. Fairfield's location is its defining advantage. Interstate 80 runs through the city, and Interstate 680 connects it to the East Bay, making it a natural base for commuters heading to either the Bay Area or Sacramento. The Suisun Marsh, the largest contiguous brackish marsh on the West Coast, borders the city, and the Suisun Valley wine region lies just to the north. Housing ranges from older central neighborhoods and military-area attached homes to newer subdivisions in Cordelia and Green Valley. Public education is provided by the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, with the Travis Unified School District serving the base area. For people seeking a central, more attainable Northern California location with military, agricultural, and commuter roots, Fairfield offers a practical and increasingly prominent place to live.