91-498: Sebastopol ( / s ɪ ˈ b æ s t ə p oʊ l , - p uː l / sib- AST -ə-pohl, -pool ) is a city in Sonoma County , California , with a recorded population of 7,521, per the 2020 U.S. Census . Sebastopol was once primarily a plum- and apple-growing region. Today, wine grapes are the predominant agriculture crop, and nearly all lands once used for orchards are now vineyards . The creation of The Barlow,
182-487: A Green Party majority—or would have, if city council races had been partisan. This was only the second time this had ever happened in California, the first being the town of Arcata in 1996. Sebastopol tends to support environmental policies: Earlier, in 1986, the residents approved an initiative declaring Sebastopol a "Nuclear Free Zone", The town does not use pesticides in city landscaping, and several years back, when
273-598: A $ 23.5 million mall on a floodplain at the edge of town, converting old agricultural warehouses into a trendy marketplace for fine dining, tasting rooms, and art, has made Sebastopol a popular Wine Country destination. Famous horticulturist Luther Burbank had gardens in this region. The city hosts an annual Apple Blossom Festival in April and is home to the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival. The area's first known inhabitants were
364-803: A 1979 video Our Train Down Main: a History of the Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railroad . The canneries and apple-processing plant are gone from downtown, and vineyards and housing developments have replaced many apple orchards, reducing the demand for freight service. It is often also incorrectly stated that the tracks were removed in the 1990s when the downtown area was redesigned with a pair of one-way streets to enhance traffic along Gravenstein Highway (Route 116). Main Street and Petaluma Avenue were actually designated one-way streets in 1985 in an attempt to deal with
455-509: A Fisheries Enhancement Program since 1996. Its website says: "The primary focus of the FEP is to enhance habitat for three salmonids : Steelhead , Chinook salmon , and Coho salmon . These three species are listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act . The California Department of Fish and Game considers the Coho salmon endangered." [REDACTED] U.S. Route 101 U.S. Route 101
546-548: A bill that resulted in Santa Rosa being confirmed as county seat in 1854. Allegedly, several Santa Rosans, not caring to wait, decided to take action and, one night, rode down the Sonoma Valley to Sonoma, took the county seals and records, and brought them to Santa Rosa. Some of the county's land was annexed from Mendocino County between 1850 and 1860. Early post-1847 settlement and development focused primarily on
637-414: A bustling center of trade, taking advantage of its position on the river near a region of highly productive agricultural land that was being settled. Soon, other inland towns, notably Santa Rosa and Healdsburg began to develop similarly due to their locations along riparian areas in prime agricultural flatland. However, their development initially lagged behind Petaluma which, until the arrival of railroads in
728-505: A fair amount of rain, with much of the county receiving between about 25 in (640 mm), comparable to areas such as Sonoma and Petaluma, and roughly 30 in (760 mm) normal for Santa Rosa. However, certain areas, particularly in the north-west portion of the county around the Russian River, receive significantly more rainfall. The Guerneville area, for example, typically receives about 50 in (1,300 mm) of rain
819-415: A household in the city was $ 60,322 (+29.9% from 2000), and the median income for a family was $ 74,020 (+32.7% from 2000). The median per capita income for the city was $ 29,470 (+28.8% from 2000). For comparison, statewide California median per capita income in the 2010 Census was $ 27,885 (+22.8% from 2000). As of the census of 2000, there were 7,774 people, 3,250 households, and 1,953 families residing in
910-567: A short overlap with I-80 at Cordelia Junction in Fairfield , another short overlap with SR 99 in Lodi, and overlaps with SR 88 and SR 26 in the Sierra foothills. The highway is mainly two lane rural highway, with the exception of short segments in Santa Rosa and Fairfield/Suisun City, the overlaps with I-80 and SR 99, and segments within developed areas, such as Santa Rosa and Lodi. SR 12 begins in
1001-528: A wide four-lane business route. After another brief merger with another freeway, this time SR 99, SR 12 heads east into the Sierra foothills (with shared segments with SR 88 and SR 26) before ending at the junction with SR 49 just north of San Andreas . SR 12 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System , and in Sebastopol, from US 101 to Sonoma, and from I-80 to SR 88 is part of
SECTION 10
#17327941467421092-494: A year, with annual rain occasionally going as high as 70 in (1,800 mm). Nearby Cazadero typically receives about 72 in (1,800 mm) of rain a year, many times has reached over 100 in (2,500 mm) a year, and sometimes over 120 in (3,000 mm) of rain in a year. The Cazadero region is the second wettest place in California after Gasquet . Snow is exceedingly rare in Sonoma County, except in
1183-459: Is Sonoma County's richest area of wildlife habitat, and the most biologically diverse region of Sonoma County (itself the second-most biologically diverse county in California)... It is a unique ecological system covering more than 30,000 acres (120 km ) and comprisedof a mosaic of creeks, open water, perennial marshes, seasonal wetlands, riparian forests, oak woodlands, and grasslands... As
1274-473: Is a leading producer of hops, grapes, prunes, apples, as well as dairy and poultry products, largely due to the extent of available, fertile agricultural land in addition to the abundance of high-quality water for irrigation. Agriculture is largely divided between two nearly monocultural uses: grapes and pasturage. The Pomo , Coast Miwok and Wappo peoples were the earliest human settlers of Sonoma County, between 8000 and 5000 BC, effectively living within
1365-737: Is a substantial section of highway passing through a "memorable landscape" with no "visual intrusions", where the potential designation has gained popular favor with the community. SR 12 has been designated by various state laws and through local usage as the Valley of the Moon Scenic Route (the portion running through Sonoma County, though the first sign with this name is at the intersection of Farmers Lane and Fourth Street in Santa Rosa); Luther Burbank Memorial Highway from Santa Rosa to Sebastopol (after botanist Luther Burbank ). SR 12
1456-812: Is also known as Sonoma Highway between Santa Rosa and the west side of the city of Sonoma ; Broadway between Sonoma Plaza and its junction with SR 121 in Schellville ; Carneros Highway for the length of its concurrency with 121 between Schellville and its junction and the north end of its concurrency with SR 29 near Napa ; Jameson Canyon Road from where its concurrency with SR 29 ends in American Canyon to its junction with I-80 in Cordelia ; and Rio Vista Highway from I-80 to SR 160 east of Rio Vista , and informally as "Blood Alley" from Lodi to Fairfield . The segment through Lodi to
1547-590: Is being done around Petaluma to finish the widening within Sonoma County; the widening also involves upgrading the highway to full freeway standards . California State Route 12 State Route 12 ( SR 12 ) is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that travels in an east–west direction from State Route 116 in Sebastopol in Sonoma County to State Route 49 just north of San Andreas in Calaveras County . The route connects
1638-475: Is fed by Santa Rosa Creek and other tributaries, including three minor tributaries within the city limits: Zimpher Creek , Calder Creek and Witter Creek . The Laguna is a wetland area that is home to many species of wildlife and vegetation and divides the town from neighboring Santa Rosa. Nearly every winter the Laguna floods, cutting off State Route 12, and often flooding the low-lying businesses and homes on
1729-416: Is in the watershed of the Russian River and its tributaries. The river rises in the coastal mountains of Mendocino County, north of the city of Ukiah , and flows into Lake Mendocino , a major flood control reservoir. The river flows south from the lake through Mendocino to Sonoma County, paralleled by Highway 101. It turns west at Healdsburg, receiving water from Lake Sonoma via Dry Creek , and empties into
1820-769: Is just the southeastern portion of the county, which includes many other valleys and geographic zones, including the Petaluma Valley, the Santa Rosa Plains , the Russian River , the Alexander Valley , and the Dry Creek Valley . Distinct habitat areas within the county include oak woodland , redwood forest , northern coastal scrub , grassland , marshland , oak savanna and riparian woodland . The California oak woodland in
1911-482: Is only 7 miles or 11 km from the city of Santa Rosa, the worst-hit town in the 1906 earthquake), but as elsewhere in the county, the town was rebuilt. In the second half of the 20th century, the apple industry struggled to compete with other apple-producing regions and gradually declined in economic significance. With greater personal mobility and the rise of larger shopping centers in other Sonoma County communities, many residents now often commute to work and shop in
SECTION 20
#17327941467422002-734: Is part of the San Jose - San Francisco - Oakland , CA Combined Statistical Area . It is the northernmost county in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area region. In California's Wine Country region, which also includes Napa, Mendocino, and Lake counties, Sonoma County is the largest producer. It has nineteen approved American Viticultural Areas and more than 350 wineries. The voters have twice approved open space initiatives that have provided funding for public acquisition of natural areas, preserving forested areas, coastal habitat , and other open space. More than 8.4 million tourists visit each year, spending more than $ 1 billion in 2016. Sonoma County
2093-557: Is partly a result of the presence of high and low pressures in inland California, with persistent high summer temperatures in the Central Valley , in particular, leading to low pressures, drawing in moist air from the Pacific, cooling into damp cool breezes and fog over the cold coastal water. Those places further inland and particularly in the lee of significant elevations tend to receive less rain and less, in some cases no, fog in
2184-413: Is some debate as to how the name "Sebastopol" came into use in Sonoma County. At one time, four other California towns were also named Sebastopol: The town in Sonoma County originally had the name Pinegrove; the name change (according to rumor) had something to do with a bar fight in the late 1850s, which was compared by a bystander to the long British siege of the seaport of Sevastopol (1854–1855) during
2275-700: Is the Western Railway Museum . At Rio Vista , SR 12 crosses the Helen Madere Memorial Bridge over the Sacramento River , entering the California Delta . This stretch of the river has twice been the site of much-publicized inland excursions by humpback whales, presumably veering off course while making their annual migrations along the Pacific coast. In 1985 Humphrey the whale swam about as far as
2366-463: Is the westernmost Federal highway in the U.S.A. Running north/south through the states of California, Oregon , and Washington, it generally parallels the coastline from Downtown Los Angeles to the Canada–US border . Highway 101 links seven of the county's nine incorporated cities: Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Windsor, Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, and Petaluma. It is a freeway for its entire length within
2457-681: Is water. The county lies in the North Coast Ranges of northwestern California. Its ranges include the Mayacamas and the Sonoma Mountains , the southern peak of the latter being the prominent landform Sears Point . The highest peak in the Mayacamas within the county and the highest peak in the county is Mt. Saint Helena . It has uncommon occurrences of pygmy forest , dominated by Mendocino cypress . The highest peak of
2548-472: The California Secretary of State , as of February 10, 2019, Sebastopol has 5,285 registered voters. Of those, 3,346 (63.3%) are registered Democrats , 518 (9.8%) are registered Republicans , and 1,137 (21.5%) have declined to state a political party. The Sebastopol Police Department serves the city. It currently employs 31 sworn and non sworn personnel , and 25 volunteers . The department
2639-581: The California clapper rail ( Rallus longirostris obsoletus ), salt marsh harvest mouse ( Reithrodontomys raviventris ), northern red-legged frog ( Rana aurora ), Sacramento splittail ( Pogonichthys macrolepidotus ), California freshwater shrimp ( Syncaris pacifica ), showy Indian clover ( Trifolium amoenum ), Hickman's potentilla ( Potentilla hickmanii ), northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina), and marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus). Species of special local concern include
2730-544: The California tiger salamander ( Ambystoma californiense ), coho salmon , and some endangered plants, including Burke's goldfields ( Lasthenia burkei ), Sebastopol meadowfoam ( Limnanthes vinculans ), and Sonoma sunshine or Baker's stickyseed ( Blennosperma bakeri ). Endangered species that are endemic to Sonoma County include Sebastopol meadowfoam, Sonoma sunshine, and Pitkin Marsh lily ( Lilium pardalinum subsp. pitkinense ). The Sonoma County Water Agency has had
2821-886: The Crimean War of 1853–1856. The original name survives in the name of the Pine Grove General Store downtown. Sebastopol became known as the " Gravenstein Apple Capital of the World". The apple industry brought a steady rural prosperity to the town. In 1890 the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad connected Sebastopol to the national rail network. The town was incorporated in 1902, with schools, churches, hotels, canneries, mills, wineries, and an opera house to its credit. The 1906 earthquake reduced most of these early buildings to rubble (Sebastopol
Sebastopol, California - Misplaced Pages Continue
2912-670: The National Highway System , a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration . SR 12 is eligible to be included in the State Scenic Highway System ; however, it is only designated as a scenic highway from its intersection with Danielli Avenue east of Santa Rosa to its junction with London Way near Agua Caliente , meaning that it
3003-485: The Sebastopol Police Department . City council races are not partisan, so each member does not officially represent any party; however, since 2000 there has been a decent amount of attention given to the individual party membership of city council members in Sebastopol. This happened because, with the election of Craig Litwin and Sam Spooner to the city council in that year's election, the town had
3094-815: The Sonoma and Napa valleys with the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and the Sierra Foothills . It is constructed to freeway standards from the Fulton Road/South Wright Road stoplight in Santa Rosa , to its partial interchange with Farmers Lane (also in Santa Rosa). There are six segments that are overlaps with other highways: in the Napa and Sonoma valleys with SR 121, in the southern Napa Valley with SR 29,
3185-455: The 1860s, remained the primary commercial, transit, and break-of-bulk point for people and goods in the region. After the arrival of the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad in 1870, Santa Rosa began to boom, soon equalling and then surpassing Petaluma as the region's population and commercial center. The railroad bypassed Petaluma for southern connections to ferries of San Francisco Bay . Six nations have claimed Sonoma County from 1542 to
3276-407: The 2000 census by age was as follows: 23.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 46,436, and the median income for a family
3367-563: The Marin County border at the Petaluma River and the border with Solano County at Sonoma Creek . Sonoma County has no incorporated communities directly on the shore of San Pablo Bay. The Petaluma River, Tolay Creek , and Sonoma Creek enter the bay at the county's southernmost tip. The intertidal zone where they join the bay is the vast Napa Sonoma Marsh . Americano Creek , the Petaluma River, Tolay Creek, and Sonoma Creek are
3458-587: The Native Americans of the entire region, and doling out the lands for large estates and ranches. The City of Sonoma was the site of the Bear Flag Revolt in 1846. Sonoma was one of the original counties when California became a state in 1850, with its county seat originally the town (now city) of Sonoma. However, by the early 1850s, Sonoma had declined in importance in both commerce and population, its county buildings were crumbling, and it
3549-556: The Pacific Ocean at Jenner . The Laguna de Santa Rosa is the largest tributary of the Russian River. It is 14 miles (23 km) long, running north from Cotati to the Russian River near Forestville. Its flood plain is more than 7,500 acres (30 km ). It drains a 254-square-mile (660 km ) watershed, including most of the Santa Rosa Plain. The Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation says: The Laguna de Santa Rosa
3640-647: The Rio Vista Bridge. In 2007 a humpback mother and calf dubbed Delta and Dawn circled for several days just upstream of the bridge, seemingly reluctant to pass under it again after having spent the previous three or four weeks upriver near Sacramento . From the Sacramento River to the junction with Interstate 5, SR 12 crosses several of the waterways of the California Delta and the low-lying fields between them. Through Lodi it becomes
3731-749: The Sonoma County Historical Society counts 380 landmarks recognized by several agencies. According to the book California Place Names , "The name of the Indian tribe is mentioned in baptismal records of 1815 as Chucuines or Sonomas , by Chamisso in 1816 as Sonomi , and repeatedly in Mission records of the following years." According to the Coast Miwok and the Pomo tribes that lived in the region, Sonoma translates as "valley of
Sebastopol, California - Misplaced Pages Continue
3822-586: The Sonoma Mountains is Sonoma Mountain itself, which boasts two significant public access properties: Jack London State Historic Park and Fairfield Osborn Preserve . The county includes the City of Sonoma and the Sonoma Valley , in which the City of Sonoma is located. However, these are not synonymous. The City of Sonoma is merely one of nine incorporated cities in the county. The Sonoma Valley
3913-455: The Sonoma Valley, east of Petaluma, are similar, with highs typically in the very high 70s F to 80 °F (27 °C). This is in part due to the presence of the Sonoma Mountains between Petaluma and Sonoma. Cloverdale , far to the north and outside of the Santa Rosa Plain, is significantly hotter than any other city in the county, with rare evening-morning fog and highs often in the 90s, reaching 100 °F (38 °C) much more frequently than
4004-666: The Walbridge Fire burned 55,209 acres (22,342 ha) in the western part of the county; then in September–October the Glass fire affected the city of Santa Rosa and ultimately destroying 1,000+ buildings The county also had a wildfire in the 1870s that is compared to the Hanley fire and Tubbs fire because they burned in the same path. The Sonoma County Landmarks Commission recognizes nearly 200 formal historical landmarks and
4095-432: The age of 18 living in them, 1,220 (37.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 478 (14.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 156 (4.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 206 (6.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 52 (1.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 1,132 households (34.6%) were made up of individuals, and 498 (15.2%) had someone living alone who
4186-501: The city of Sonoma, then the region's sole town and a common transit and resting point in overland travel between the region and Sacramento and the gold fields to the east. However, after 1850, a settlement that soon became the city of Petaluma began to grow naturally near the farthest navigable point inland up the Petaluma River . Originally a hunting camp used to obtain game to sell in other markets, by 1854 Petaluma had grown into
4277-428: The city. The population density was 4,139 per square mile (1,598/km). There were 3,321 housing units at an average density of 1,768 units per square mile (683 units/km). The racial makeup of the city was 89.85% White , 0.66% African American , 0.78% Native American , 1.52% Asian , 0.10% Pacific Islander , 3.86% from other races , and 3.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.26% of
4368-427: The coast, with strong marine influence, tends to have low diurnal temperature fluctuation, with summer highs much cooler than the inland towns, typically 65–75 °F, yet lows in the high 40s to low 50s F, fairly comparable to most inland towns. These microclimates are evident during the rainy seasons as well, with great variation in the amount of rainfall throughout the county. Generally, all of Sonoma County receives
4459-462: The county's beaches were listed as among the cleanest in the state in 2010. Six of the county's nine cities, from Healdsburg south through Santa Rosa to Rohnert Park and Cotati, are in the Santa Rosa Plain. The northern Plain drains directly to the Russian River, or to a tributary; the southern Plain drains to the Russian River via the Laguna de Santa Rosa . Much of central and northern Sonoma County
4550-497: The county. The four-lane sections of the highway have been heavily congested during peak commute hours for many years and work is being done to widen part of the highway to six lanes. The segment from north of Petaluma (at Old Redwood Highway/Petaluma Boulevard North exit) to Windsor has been fully widened, as has the segment from the Petaluma River bridge to the Marin County border. The two new inner lanes are designated for vehicles with two or more occupants during commute hours. Work
4641-404: The county. In summer, daily lows and highs are typically 30–40 °F apart inland, with highs for Petaluma, Cotati, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Windsor, and Sebastopol typically being in the very low 80s F and lows at or near 50 °F (10 °C). Healdsburg and the City of Sonoma, with similar lows, have even greater diurnal fluctuations due to their significantly warmer highs. On the other hand,
SECTION 50
#17327941467424732-430: The default computer wallpaper of Microsoft 's Windows XP operating system. Plans call for a western extension of its western terminus to State Route 1 near Bodega Bay . Plans also called for Route 12 to be built as a freeway from Farmers Lane to Melita Road, in Santa Rosa; however, as of 2014, this project was delayed due to community opposition. Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured on
4823-488: The earth; and noma , village; hence tsonoma , "earth village." Other sources say Sonoma comes from the Patwin tribes west of the Sacramento River , and their Wintu word for "nose". Per California Place Names , "the name is doubtless derived from a Patwin word for 'nose', which Padre Arroyo (Vocabularies, p. 22) gives as sonom ( Suisun )." Spaniards may have found an Indian chief with a prominent protuberance and applied
4914-423: The eastern side of Sebastopol. The Pitkin Marsh lily and White sedge are two rare species of plants that are found in the vicinity of Sebastopol. The city has a total area of 1.9 sq mi (4.9 km), all land. The 2020 United States Census reported that Sebastopol had a population of 7,521. The population density was 3,996.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,543.0/km). The racial makeup of Sebastopol
5005-710: The first newcomers to establish a permanent foothold in Sonoma County, with the Russian-American Company establishing Fort Ross on the Sonoma Coast in 1812. This settlement and its outlying Russian settlements came to include a population of several hundred Russian and Aleut settlers and a stockaded fort with artillery. However, the Russians abandoned it in 1841 and sold the fort to John Sutter , settler and Mexican land grantee of Sacramento . The Mission San Francisco Solano , founded in 1823 as
5096-416: The fog later in the evening, the fog tends to be more short-lived, and mid-day temperatures are significantly higher than they are on the coast, typically in the low 80s F. This is particularly true for Petaluma, Cotati , and Rohnert Park , and, only slightly less so, Santa Rosa, Windsor , and Sebastopol . In large part, this results from lower elevations and the prominent Petaluma Gap in the hills between
5187-655: The four-lane expressway SR 29 to cross the Napa River . Four miles after joining SR 29 it splits off towards the east on Jameson Canyon Road; this section is also the 1928 re-alignment of the Lincoln Highway , the first road across America. After a brief merge with Interstate 80, SR 12 branches off to the east as an expressway through Fairfield and Suisun City . East of Suisun it becomes two lanes again and crosses south of Travis Air Force Base , through rolling fields with numerous wind turbines. Just past Braid's Bridge
5278-621: The higher elevations on and around the Mayacamas Mountains , particularly Mount Saint Helena , and Cobb Mountain , whose peak is in Lake County. Sonoma County is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, and has 76 miles (122 km) of coastline. The major coastal hydrographic features are Bodega Bay , the mouth of the Russian River, and the mouth of the Gualala River , at the border with Mendocino County . All of
5369-480: The last and northernmost of 21 California missions , is in the present City of Sonoma , at the northern end of El Camino Real . El Presidio de Sonoma , or Sonoma Barracks (part of Spain's Fourth Military District ), was established in 1836 by Comandante General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo . His duties included keeping an eye on the Russian traders at Fort Ross, secularizing the Mission, maintaining cooperation with
5460-569: The moon" or "many moons". Their legends detail this as a land where the moon nestled, hence the names Sonoma Valley and the "Valley of the Moon." This translation was first recorded in an 1850 report by General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo to the California Legislature. Jack London popularized it in his 1913 novel The Valley of the Moon . In the native languages there is also a constantly recurring ending tso-noma , from tso ,
5551-558: The native Coast Miwok and Pomo peoples. The town currently sits atop multiple village sites. The town of Sebastopol formed in the 1850s with a U.S. Post Office and as a small trade center for the farmers of the surrounding agricultural region. As California's population swelled after the westward migration and the California Gold Rush of 1848–1855, more and more settlers drifted into the fertile California valleys north of San Francisco to try their hand at farming. There
SECTION 60
#17327941467425642-433: The natural carrying capacity of the land. Archaeological evidence of these First people includes a number of occurrences of rock carvings , especially in southern Sonoma County; these carvings often take the form of pecked curvilinear nucleated design. Spaniards , Russians , and other Europeans claimed and settled in the county from the late 16th to mid-19th century, seeking timber, fur, and farmland. The Russians were
5733-441: The neighboring towns of Rohnert Park or Santa Rosa , while Sebastopol maintains its small-town charm. It is often incorrectly claimed that Sebastopol was the last town in Northern California to have working railroad trains on Main Street . The tracks were removed in the late 1980s. Passenger service had ceased in the 1930s, and regular freight service ended in the late 1970s. This was documented by Analy High School students in
5824-421: The nickname of Chief Nose to the village and the territory. The name may have applied originally to a nose-shaped geographic feature. Jesse Sawyer argues that it is from Wappo tso-noma , meaning "redwood place." According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has an area of 1,768 square miles (4,580 km ), of which 1,576 square miles (4,080 km ) is land and 192 square miles (500 km ) (10.9%)
5915-444: The oak woodland habitat include Pacific madrone , Douglas fir , coast live oak , Garry oak , and California laurel . Common understory plants are toyon , poison oak , and, at the fringes, coast silk-tassel . Sonoma County, as is often the case with coastal counties in California, has a great degree of climatic variation and numerous, often very different, microclimates. Key determining factors for local climate are proximity to
6006-404: The ocean to the west and the Petaluma Valley and Santa Rosa Plain to the east. Areas north of Santa Rosa and Windsor, with larger elevations to the west and further from the fog path, tend to receive less fog and less summer marine influence. Healdsburg, to the north of Windsor, is less foggy and much warmer, with summer highs typically in the higher 80s to about 90 °F (32 °C). Sonoma and
6097-460: The ocean, elevation, and the presence and elevation of hills or mountains to the east and west. This is in large part due to the fact that, as throughout California, the prevailing weather systems and wind come normally from the Pacific Ocean, blowing in from the west and southwest, so that places closer to the ocean and on the windward side of higher elevations tend to receive more rain from autumn through spring and more summer wind and fog. This itself
6188-458: The other cities. Notably, however, the temperature differences among the different areas of the county are greatest for the highs during mid-day, with the diurnal lows much more even throughout the entire county. The lows are closely tied to the evening-morning cooling marine influence, in addition to elevation, bringing similarly cool temperatures to much of region. These weather patterns contribute to high diurnal temperature fluctuations in much of
6279-447: The overlap with SR 99 is on Kettleman Lane. Before the 1964 renumbering, this route was signed as Sign Route 12 for most of its length. However, SR 12 was designated as Legislative Route 51 (LR 51) from SR 116 to SR 121 before the 1964 renumbering. Portions of the route from SR 29 to I-80 ran concurrently with State Route 29 or with State Route 37 ; this was also LR 8 and a former routing of US 40 . The portion from I-80 to then- US 99
6370-412: The police needed a new vehicle, the city council voted to purchase a hybrid instead of a standard police car. Current issues facing the city include a high cost of living and ongoing difficulties with traffic (the town has two highways going through downtown). The current city council members (as of December 2020) are: A former mayor, Robert Jacob, who was selected by the city council in December 2013,
6461-425: The population. There were 3,250 households, out of which 31.8% included children under the age of 18 in the house, 41.5% were married couples living together, 14.2% were led by a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were other living arrangements. 31.8% of all households were made up of a single individual and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
6552-581: The present: Sonoma County was severely shaken by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake . The displacements along the fault averaged 15 feet (4.6 m). In October 2017, the county was greatly affected by the Tubbs Fire and the Nuns Fire . In late October and early November 2019, the Kincade Fire burned 77,758 acres (31,468 ha), almost all in Sonoma County. In August and September 2020,
6643-674: The principal streams draining the southern portion of the county. The Sonoma Valley is drained by Sonoma Creek, whose major tributaries are Yulupa Creek , Graham Creek , Calabazas Creek , Schell Creek, and Carriger Creek ; Arroyo Seco Creek is a tributary to Schell Creek. Other creeks include Foss, Felta, and Mill. Lakes and reservoirs in the county include Lake Sonoma, Tolay Lake , Lake Ilsanjo , Santa Rosa Creek Reservoir , Lake Ralphine , and Fountaingrove Lake . Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems. A number of endangered plants and animals are found in Sonoma County, including
6734-415: The receiving water of a watershed where most of the county's human population lives, it is a landscape feature of critical importance to Sonoma County's water quality, flood control, and biodiversity. The Laguna's largest tributary is Santa Rosa Creek , which runs through Santa Rosa. Its major tributaries are Brush Creek , Mark West Creek, Matanzas Creek , Spring Creek , and Piner Creek . Santa Rosa Creek
6825-553: The road as it was in 1964 , based on the alignment that existed at the time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage. R reflects a realignment in the route since then, M indicates a second realignment, L refers to an overlap due to a correction or change, and T indicates postmiles classified as temporary ( for a full list of prefixes, see California postmile § Official postmile definitions ). Segments that remain unconstructed or have been relinquished to local control may be omitted. The numbers reset at county lines;
6916-511: The summer of 2018. Sonoma County, California Sonoma County ( / s ə ˈ n oʊ m ə / ) is a county located in the U.S. state of California . As of the 2020 United States Census , its population was 488,863. Its seat of government and largest city is Santa Rosa . Sonoma County comprises the Santa Rosa-Petaluma Metropolitan Statistical Area , which
7007-554: The summer. The coast itself is typically cool and moist throughout summer, often foggy, with fog generally blowing in during the late afternoon and evening until it clears in the later morning becoming sunny, before repeating. Coastal summer highs are typically in the mid to high 60s, warming to the low 70s further from the ocean. Certain inland areas, including the Petaluma area and the Santa Rosa Plain, are also prone to this normal fog pattern in general. However, they tend to receive
7098-548: The town's perennial traffic problem. As of 2016 the old train station houses the Western County Museum. Sebastopol's elevation is 65 to 250 feet (20 to 76 m) above sea level. Its downtown is at the intersection of State Route 12 and State Route 116 (Gravenstein Highway), approximately 9 mi (14 km) west of U.S. Route 101 . Sebastopol is situated on the edge of the Laguna de Santa Rosa , which
7189-512: The upper Yulupa Creek and Spring Creek watersheds in Annadel State Park is a relatively undisturbed ecosystem with considerable biodiversity . These forested areas have been characterized as some of the best examples of such woodlands. An unusual characteristic of these forests is the high content of undisturbed prehistoric bunchgrass understory , testifying to the absence of historic grazing or other agriculture . Trees of
7280-697: The west at its junction with SR 116 in Sebastopol . After passing east through Santa Rosa on a mix of freeway, surface street, and expressway, it turns south into the Sonoma Valley, passing the Jack London State Historic Park at Glen Ellen . It winds through Sonoma on surface streets, where the historic Vallejo Estate and Sonoma Mission , both part of the Sonoma State Historic Park , are. South of Sonoma, SR 12 turns east, joining SR 121 for nearly nine miles, then turns south briefly as it leaves SR 121 and joins
7371-430: Was $ 55,792. Males had a median income of $ 40,538 versus $ 32,399 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 22,881. About 4.7% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line , including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over. Places of interest in Sebastopol include: The city council consists of five members, each serving four-year terms. The city's laws are enforced by
7462-400: Was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.95. For the most part the population is spread out across the age groups, although the young adult population is drastically lower than the other groups, indicating that most young people leave, at least temporarily. The reasons for this are probably a combination of the high cost of living and the lack of other young adults. The percent distribution on
7553-489: Was 46.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.7 males. There were 3,465 housing units, with an average density of 1,870.0 per square mile (722.0/km), of which 52.9% were owner-occupied and 47.1% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.2%. 53.7% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 44.5% lived in rental housing units. The median income for
7644-445: Was 6,509 (88.2%) White , 72 (1.0%) African American , 60 (0.8%) Native American , 120 (1.6%) Asian , 19 (0.3%) Pacific Islander , 298 (4.0%) from other races , and 301 (4.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 885 persons (12.0%). The Census reported that 98.3% of the population lived in households and 1.7% were institutionalized. There were 3,276 households, out of which 902 (27.5%) had children under
7735-415: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21. There were 1,854 families (56.6% of all households); the average family size was 2.82. The population was spread out, with 1,515 people (20.5%) under the age of 18, 471 people (6.4%) aged 18 to 24, 1,587 people (21.5%) aged 25 to 44, 2,525 people (34.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,281 people (17.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
7826-418: Was 80.8% White (74.9% White, not Hispanic or Latino), 3.8% Asian , 1.7% African American , 0.2% Pacific Islander , 0.0% Native American and 7.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.7%. The 2010 United States Census reported that Sebastopol had a population of 7,379. The population density was 3,982.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,537.6/km). The racial makeup of Sebastopol
7917-456: Was designated as LR 53 in 1919; from US 99 to SR 49, it was designated as LR 24. In 1976, the discontinuity resulting from the concurrency with State Route 84 was removed. In January 1996, photographer Charles O'Rear pulled off the highway east of Schellville near the Napa – Sonoma county line to photograph the lush hillside by the road. The image became known as Bliss and was used as
8008-456: Was founded in the early 1900s. The divisions of the department are administration, watch commanders, patrol officers , dispatchers , reserve officers, community service volunteers and explorers. Sebastopol Union operates two elementary schools: Parkside (K-4) and Brook Haven (5–8). Sebastopol Charter, a K-8 public charter school, had the highest percentage (58%) of kindergarten students with medical exemptions to vaccines in California as of
8099-489: Was relatively remote. As a result, elements in the newer, rapidly growing towns of Petaluma , Santa Rosa, and Healdsburg began vying to move the county seat to their towns. The dispute ultimately was between the bigger, richer commercial town of Petaluma and the more centrally located, growing agricultural center of Santa Rosa. The fate was decided following an election for the state legislature in which James Bennett of Santa Rosa defeated Joseph Hooker of Sonoma and introduced
8190-599: Was shown to be polluted in Sonoma county first flush results. The boundary with Marin County runs from the mouth of the Estero Americano at Bodega Bay , up Americano Creek, then overland to San Antonio Creek and down the Petaluma River to its mouth at the northwest corner of San Pablo Bay , which adjoins San Francisco Bay . The southern edge of Sonoma County comprises the northern shore of San Pablo Bay between
8281-582: Was the owner of two medical marijuana dispensaries in Sonoma County. He was reported to be the first American mayor to be involved in the industry. In the California State Legislature , Sebastopol is in the 10th Assembly District , represented by Democrat Stephanie Nguyen , and California's 2nd State Senate district , represented by Mike McGuire. Federally, Sebastopol is in California's 2nd congressional district , represented by Democrat Jared Huffman . According to
#741258