Marysville, CA Cake Smash Photographer

About Marysville, Yuba County

Marysville, the county seat of Yuba County, sits at the confluence of the Feather and Yuba Rivers in California’s northern Sacramento Valley, serving since the 1850s Gold Rush as a gateway to the Sierra Nevada mining districts. Named for Mary Murphy Covillaud, a Donner Party survivor, the city preserves a compact historic core of brick storefronts and levee-lined streets. Notable landmarks include the 1854 Bok Kai Temple—among the oldest Taoist temples in the United States—and Ellis Lake, reshaped in the 1930s with landscaping attributed to John McLaren, now a scenic centerpiece for walking, birding, and community events. Visitors can explore the Mary Aaron Museum’s Victorian-era collections, stroll D Street’s shops and cafes, and enjoy riverfront paths and fishing at Beckwourth Riverfront Park. Seasonal highlights range from the colorful Bok Kai Festival and dragon parade each spring to the Marysville Stampede rodeo and races at Marysville Raceway. The city’s location on the Pacific Flyway brings excellent wildlife viewing, while nearby levees offer cycling routes with sweeping views toward the Sutter Buttes. Popular stops also include local taquerias and historic saloons, public art murals, and farmers markets that showcase Yuba-Sutter agriculture, reinforcing Marysville’s role as a regional hub with deep pioneer roots.