In 1849 , a state Constitutional Convention was first held in Monterey . Among the first tasks of the Convention was a decision on a location for the new state capital . The first full legislative sessions were held in San Jose ( 1850 – 1851 ) . Subsequent locations included Vallejo ( 1852 – 1853 ) , and nearby Benicia ( 1853 – 1854 ) ; these locations eventually proved to be inadequate as well . The capital has been located in Sacramento since 1854 with only a short break in 1862 when legislative sessions were held in San Francisco due to flooding in Sacramento
flooding in Sacramento
Great Flood of 1862
California