Tacitus Ryland Arbuckle acquired land in south-central Colusa County in 1866 where he and Amanda Arbuckle raised 13 Children. By 1875, Tacitus gave a right of way and land for a depot and siding to the Northern Railroad Company and listed the area as the town of Arbuckle with the county clerk. By the time the railroad arrived in the spring of 1876, Arbuckle had sold 30 lots. The town of Arbuckle grew to about 300 residents by the end of the year and Tacitus Arbuckle became Arbuckle's first postmaster.

The town of Arbuckle sustained by farming, mainly Almonds, Rice, Tomatoes, Walnuts, Peaches, etc., and the rail road and provided access to the Sacramento and bay area markets. With businessmen arriving on rail to provide services and products to local farmers, citizens were selling goods to brokers who later distributed them to markets along the railroad. Citizens and the town prospered.

In 1877 Arbuckle built its first elementary school and the first 8 graduates of the Pierce Joint Unified High School graduated in 1898. Telephones became available in 1911, as well as paved roads and a fire protection district was formed in 1928. Arbuckle had a theatre, bowling alley, skate rink, full time pharmacist, bakery, general store, and automobile dealership until the early 1960's.

Arbuckle thrived and grew slowly for 80 years until the summer of 1957 when Interstate 5 opened and allowed easy commutes between Arbuckle and Sacramento, and Reading. Although farmers prospered, the downtown community of Arbuckle dwindled and many prized businesses closed their doors. The first sub development in Arbuckle began with the USDA Almond Paradise Subdivision in the early 1980's. Sub development continued in 2004 and 2007 and brought an additional 200 homes to the Arbuckle area.