Benicia on Web Site's List of Top Cities to Live

Benicia on Web Site's List of Top Cities to Live
By GREG MOBERLY, Times-Herald staff writer

BENICIA - For those looking for a new place to call home, Benicia is among the best, boasting great schools and low crime, according to a Web site listing released Tuesday.

In its "America's Top 100 Places to Live," Relocate-America.com mentions Benicia and four other California cities as representing ideal places. The designation is just the latest accolade bestowed on the city in recent years from a travel or leisure magazine or major media outlet.

The Web site, a real estate resource for professionals and customers, is designed to give people information about cities they might not know, said Tonja Deegan, the Web site's communications director.

The top 10 cities in the listing are numbered but the following 90, including Benicia, aren't counted. Different cities were recognized by the Web site's users who responded to a request to explain their favorite city's attributes.

Specifically, Benicia is described as having a school district with students who consistently score high in Scholastic Aptitude Tests. Also, the city has several municipal parks and events, including the annual Peddler's Fair, glass studios open houses and heritage homes tours, according to the designation.

"It's pretty terrific," said Mayor Steve Messina when informed of the latest honor. "We should all be pleased."

Libbey McKendry, executive director of Benicia Main Street also said the city is "very fortunate to be recognized."

McKendry said the city's awards probably have snowballed from other recent honors.

In recent years, Nick Jr. Family Magazine recognized Benicia as one of the most playful cities in America, Coastal Living Magazine cited Benicia as one of its best places to live on the coast and American Style Magazine named the city as one of the top arts destination cities in America.

Naperville, Ill was named No. 1 in the Relocate-America.com listing followed by Cary N.C. and Boulder, Colo.