It's that time again: How well do you know Solano County?

It's a tradition unlike any other . . . except the Masters golf tournament, Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, July 4 fireworks, the Dodgers outbidding everyone for free agents, that family member who always has a great new idea that really isn't great, people complaining about the government some other things.

But it's a tradition. It's time for my annual Solano County knowledge quiz, which originated when I started writing this column in 1935 as a way to supplement my income during the Great Depression (which, honestly, wasn't all that great). It's 20 questions about Solano County. You may know the answer to some, most or (probably not) all.

Away we go, with the 2025 version (which, as always, contains some familiar questions):

1. Name Solano County's seven cities.

2. What five counties share a border with Solano County?

3. Within five degrees, what is the average high temperature in Fairfield in January?

4. What three members of the House of Representatives represent Solano County?

5. Within 10 miles, what is the distance on Interstate 80 from the eastern border between Dixon and Davis and the western border past Vallejo?

6. Within 10 years, in what year was Suisun City incorporated?

7. What was the largest agricultural crop (by dollars) in Solano County in 2024?

8. Who is the man who would risk his neck for his brother man?

9. Which of Vacaville's prisons has more inmates, California State Prison Solano or the California Medical Facility?

10. When was the last presidential election in which Solano County voted Republican?

11. Fairfield is larger in terms of geography than Suisun City. Is it eight times (or more) larger?

12. Allan Witt Park is the largest community park in Fairfield. Who was Allan Witt?

13. Within three years, in what year did Rancho Solano golf course open?

14. What is the largest (in terms of student body population) school in the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District?

15. Who is older, Tony Wade or Kelvin Wade?

16. Catherine Moy is the mayor of Fairfield. Who were the three previous mayors?

17. What is the name of the independent minor league baseball team in Vallejo?

18. Within 20,000, what was the population of Solano County in 2020?

19. Within 400 miles, what's the distance from Fairfield, California, to Fairfield, Connecticut by road?

20. According to Zillow, is the average value of a home in Fairfield more than $600,000?

ANSWERS

1. In alphabetical order: Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville, Vallejo.

2. Contra Costa, Napa, Sonoma, Sacramento, Yolo.

3. 56.6 degrees, which seems high.

4.  Mike Thompson (D–St. Helena), Doris Matsui (D–Sacramento) and John Garamendi (D–Walnut Grove).

5. 42 miles.

6. 1868.

7. Almonds, with a gross production value of $78.45 million.

8. John Shaft.

9. California State Prison Solano, with about 3,700 inmates. CMF has approximately 2,100 inmates.

10. 1984 (Ronald Reagan)

11. Yes. Fairfield is more than nine times larger than Suisun City.  Fairfield is 37.6 square miles and Suisun City is 4.1 square miles. 

12. A longtime city councilman (and one-term mayor) from the late 1940s to early 1970s. Also a barber.

13. 1990.

14. Rodriguez High, with an enrollment of more than 2,000 students.

15. Tony, by two years.

16. Harry Price, Karin McMillian, George Pettygrove.

17. Seaweed.

18. 453,491

19. 2,915 miles.

20. No. A December Zillow report said the average home in Fairfield was valued at $595,621.

SCORING

0-4: I hope one of your correct answers was the Shaft question.

5-9: Solid. These are difficult.

10-14: Outstanding. You're either a history expert or you're like the next group.

15-20: You cheated by looking at the answers first.

Reach Brad Stanhope at bradstanhope@outlook.com.