Davis · CA
South Davis and El Macero: Neighborhood Guide
South Davis is the part of Davis south of I-80, and El Macero is an unincorporated Yolo County community built around a 1961 country club.
What are South Davis and El Macero?
South Davis is the part of the city south of Interstate 80, and El Macero sits at its eastern end. Locals often count El Macero as part of South Davis, but it is not inside the city. It is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Yolo County, just outside Davis city limits.
That line matters. A South Davis address inside the city and an El Macero address a few blocks away answer to different governments for some services, and the tax bill shows it.
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How did El Macero grow up?
El Macero's land traces back to General Mariano Vallejo, and the Montgomery family bought it in 1851, per its Wikipedia entry. About a century later Bruce Mace acquired it, and the community is named for him. Mace hired Fresno golf designer Robert Baldock, and by spring 1961 the clubhouse, the golf course and the first 175 lots had opened.
El Macero Country Club, at 44571 Clubhouse Drive, is private. LocalWiki says its members bought it from the Mace family in 1966 and run it as a nonprofit corporation. The 2020 census counted 1,074 people, 428 households and 451 housing units in El Macero, on about 0.6 square miles. That small size is part of the draw: it is a single club-centered community rather than a section of a bigger subdivision.
What kind of homes are in South Davis and El Macero?
El Macero is single-family homes laid out around the golf course, and a home on the course is a different purchase from one on an interior street. South Davis inside the city is a mix of single-family neighborhoods, apartments and the shopping centers near the freeway.
The age of a house follows its street, so check the build year for each home. El Macero's first lots opened in 1961.
What is there to do in South Davis and El Macero?
LocalWiki lists Pioneer Park, Playfields Park, Putah Creek Park, Walnut Park and Willowcreek Park in South Davis. For errands, Oakshade Town Center on Cowell Boulevard is anchored by Safeway, per its owner Regency Centers, and the El Macero Shopping Center sits on Mace Boulevard between Chiles Road and Cowell Boulevard.
Getting across the freeway by bike is easier than it looks. The Putah Creek bicycle undercrossing, added in 2000, carries the bike path under I-80 and the railroad tracks at the east end of the UC Davis Arboretum, per LocalWiki. A second, smaller tunnel connects the Pole Line Road path to Playfields Park. LocalWiki says the Putah Creek tunnels were added because the Richards Boulevard overpass was a hard route for bikes.
Which school district serves South Davis and El Macero?
Davis Joint Unified School District serves both South Davis and El Macero, even though El Macero is outside city limits. Confirm the assigned school with the district directly.
What should buyers in South Davis and El Macero check first?
Start with the jurisdiction. For an El Macero home, Yolo County is the local government, so permits, code questions and some service charges run through the county instead of the City of Davis. Read the tax bill for any special district charges, and ask what the HOA, if there is one for that street, covers.
Inside the city, Davis's rental registration rules apply to any home you plan to rent out. Maggie works the tax bill and the loan into one monthly number before you write an offer. Start with buying a home in Davis.
What should sellers in South Davis and El Macero know?
El Macero homes on the course draw buyers who are shopping for that setting, and they compare with other course homes, not with the rest of South Davis. Show the view and the lot, and have the county and HOA details ready.
South Davis homes inside the city sell against a wider set of sales, and the I-80 access is a selling point for anyone commuting to Sacramento. See selling your home in Davis. If you are settling an estate on a home here, our probate and trust sales page for Davis covers the court and county steps.
Work with a local team on South Davis and El Macero
Surroundings puts the sale and the loan under one roof. Compare South Davis and El Macero with Mace Ranch and Wildhorse, see the Davis guide, or book a call with Maggie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is El Macero part of the city of Davis?
No. El Macero is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Yolo County, just outside Davis city limits, though it is often counted as part of South Davis.
What school district serves South Davis and El Macero?
Davis Joint Unified School District serves both South Davis and El Macero, even though El Macero is outside city limits. Confirm the assigned school with the district directly.
When was El Macero built?
The clubhouse, golf course and first 175 lots opened by spring 1961, on land Bruce Mace had acquired.
Is El Macero Country Club private?
Yes. Its members bought it from the Mace family in 1966 and run it as a nonprofit corporation.
How many homes are in El Macero?
The 2020 census counted 451 housing units and 1,074 people in the El Macero census-designated place.
What ZIP code is El Macero?
El Macero uses 95618. It once had its own post office under that ZIP, and in 2006 eastern and southern parts of Davis were added to it.
Can I bike from South Davis to campus?
Yes. The Putah Creek bicycle undercrossing carries the path under I-80 and the tracks at the east end of the UC Davis Arboretum.
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