Citrus Heights city feature
About this landmark
A cemetery founded by land donation, grown from one-tenth acre to 18.
Sylvan Cemetery was established in 1862 when Daniel Lewis donated one-tenth of an acre of land. The cemetery is the oldest District Cemetery in Sacramento County. The land was originally part of a 480-acre ranch settled in 1858 by Frederick Volle, the same family connected to the Rusch Home nearby. The District office is located at 7401 Auburn Boulevard, Citrus Heights, with contact hours Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Visiting hours are Monday–Friday from 7 a.m., and Saturday, Sunday, and holidays from 8:30 a.m., with gates closing at sunset.
Early burials and the 1891 fire that destroyed records
The first burial in the cemetery was James Horton, who had come from Tennessee seeking gold-country fortune and died young after an eye ailment threatened him with blindness. Another notable burial occurred in 1942, when Sam, a Chinese laborer who had worked for the Cross family since the 1880s, was buried in the Cross family plot at approximately age 80.
The cemetery's original records were destroyed in an 1891 fire and were reestablished by trustees in March 1893. The original 1864 deed was also lost, though its recording by Elisha Daly and F. Volle was documented. In November 1926, George and Emma Coleman sold approximately 10 additional acres to the Sylvan Cemetery Association. This expansion supported the cemetery's growth from its original 0.1 acres to 18 acres today.
Spanish-American War graves and modern services
The cemetery holds a notable concentration of Spanish-American War grave markers, attributed to a nearby U.S. Army camp and induction center that operated in Roseville during that conflict. The District's service area extends beyond Citrus Heights to include Orangevale, Antelope, North Highlands, Rio Linda, Elverta, and parts of Natomas.
The cemetery offers pre-need planning services, a burial-record search tool, and a virtual 360-degree tour of the grounds. The City lists Sylvan Cemetery among its marked historic sites as part of a comprehensive historic resources survey, and the Citrus Heights Historical Society lists cemetery tours as a recurring public event.
Insurance connection: Life insurance and death benefits
California recognizes two basic life insurance categories: term insurance, which covers a specified period with no cash value, and cash-value insurance, which usually lasts for the entire life of a person and combines a death benefit with savings accumulation. The death benefit is paid to the named beneficiary, with any outstanding policy loans deducted from the proceeds. When replacing one life policy with another, the replacing insurer must provide an unconditional right to a full refund of all premiums within 30 days. Eligibility and limits depend on the individual policy. The issued policy controls.
Primary sources: Sylvan Cemetery District history page, City of Citrus Heights official history, and Citrus Heights Historical Society.
Insurance context is general information only. The issued policy and its endorsements settle coverage.