125-875: Petaluma is a city in Sonoma County , California , located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area . Its population is, according to World Population Review, 58,489 people. It was 59,776 according to the 2020 census . Petaluma's name comes from the Miwok village named Péta Lúuma that was located on the banks of the Petaluma River . The modern city originates in Rancho Petaluma , granted in 1834 to famed Californio statesman Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo , considered to be
250-520: A Bachelor's degree or higher level of education. The median household income was reported to be $ 100,379 in 2021 dollars , with a per capita income of $ 50,664. The median gross rent in Petaluma was measured to be $ 2,144, with the labor force participation rate having leveled off at 65.7%. The rate of poverty in the city changed only marginally between 2010 and 2020, slightly decreasing to 5.9%. The 2010 United States Census reported that Petaluma had
375-635: A 75.1 percent to 24.9 percent margin. The official tally was 103,341 against and 34,324 in favor. Only San Francisco County voted against the measure by a wider margin (75.2% against). According to the California Secretary of State , as of February 10, 2019, Marin County has 161,870 registered voters. Of those, 89,526 (55.31%) are registered Democrats, 23,380 (14.44%) are registered Republicans , 7,020 (4.35%) are registered with other political parties, and 41,908 (25.89%) have declined to state
500-509: 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
625-641: A baptism witness and godfather; he may have escaped and been recaptured at some point during that time. Starting in 1817, he served as an alcalde (in effect, an overseer) at the San Rafael Mission, where he lived from 1817 off and on until his death. In 1821, Marino served as an expedition guide for the Spanish for a couple of years before escaping and hiding out for some months in the tiny Marin Islands (also named after him); his recapture resulted in
750-548: 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
875-414: 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
1000-505: 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
1125-662: A household in the city was $ 61,679, and the median income for a family was $ 71,158 (these figures had risen to $ 68,949 and $ 85,513, respectively, as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $ 50,232 versus $ 36,413 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 27,087. About 3.3% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over. Amy's Kitchen , Calix Inc. , CamelBak , Clover Stornetta Farms , Lagunitas Brewing Company , and Petaluma Poultry are based in Petaluma. Mesa Boogie and Enphase Energy were also founded in Petaluma. According to
1250-450: A language other than English . Furthermore, 14.9% of residents were foreign-born. The city's population (in terms of sex) was practically evenly split, with 50.1% of residents being female, and 49.9% being male. More than one-fifth (20.6%) of Petaluma's residents were under the age of 18, while 18.7% are senior citizens aged 65 and over. Nine-tenths (90.5%) of the population had graduated high school , with 40.3% of residents having obtained
1375-568: A point system conforming to the city's general plan to provide for low and moderate income housing and divide development somewhat equally between east and west and single family and multi-family housing. The stated objectives of Petaluma's time controlled growth management were to ensure orderly growth; to protect the city's small town character and surrounding green space; to provide a variety of housing choices; and to maintain adequate water supply and sewage treatment facilities. The controlled development plan attracted national attention in 1975 when
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#17327729998801500-471: A population of 252,409. The racial makeup of Marin County was 201,963 (80.0%) White , 6,987 (2.8%) African American , 1,523 (0.6%) Native American , 13,761 (5.5%) Asian , 509 (0.2%) Pacific Islander , 16,973 (6.7%) from other races , and 10,693 (4.2%) from two or more races. There were 39,069 people of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race (15.5%). As of the census of 2000, there were 247,289 people, 100,650 households, and 60,691 families residing in
1625-745: A population of 57,941. The population density was 3,998.9 people per square mile (1,544.0/km). The racial makeup of Petaluma was 46,566 (80.4%) White , 801 (1.4%) African American , 353 (0.6%) Native American , 2,607 (4.5%) Asian (1.3% Chinese, 0.9% Filipino, 0.8% Asian Indian, 0.4% Japanese, 0.3% Vietnamese, 0.2% Korean, 0.1% Pakistani, 0.1% Laotian, 0.1% Thai), 129 (0.2%), Pacific Islander , 5,103 (8.8%) from other races , and 2,382 (4.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12,453 persons (21.5%). The Latino ethnic groups are Mexicans (16.2%), Salvadorans (1.2%), Guatemalans (0.6%), Nicaraguans (0.3%), Peruvians (0.3%), and Puerto Ricans (0.3%). The Census reported that 57,217 people (98.8% of
1750-538: A ranch house near Petaluma, which his family often used as a summer home, while he resided in the neighboring town of Sonoma . Vallejo's influence and Mexican control in the region began to decline after Vallejo's arrest during the Bear Flag Revolt in 1846. Pioneers moved to Petaluma from the eastern United States after James Marshall found gold in the Sierra Nevada in 1848. The town's position on
1875-525: A total tax basis of $ 39.8 billion. These parcels are divided into the following classifications: Geographically, the county forms a large, southward-facing peninsula, with the Pacific Ocean to the west, San Pablo Bay , and San Francisco Bay to the east, and – across the Golden Gate – the city of San Francisco to the south. Marin County's northern border is with Sonoma County . Most of
2000-553: 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
2125-639: A yearlong incarceration at the Presidio before his return to the Mission San Rafael area for about 15 years until his death in 1839. In 2009, a plaque commemorating Chief Marin was placed in Mill Valley. Another version of the origin of the county name is that the bay between San Pedro Point and San Quentin Point was named Bahía de Nuestra Señora del Rosario la Marinera in 1775, and that Marin
2250-469: Is 32 miles (51 km) north of San Francisco. Petaluma is flanked by the unincorporated communities of Penngrove to the north and Lakeville to the south. Petaluma is situated at the northernmost navigable end of the Petaluma River, a tidal estuary that snakes southward to San Pablo Bay . Pollution levels in the river, once considerable, have improved in recent years. A significant amount of
2375-459: 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
2500-719: 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 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
2625-473: 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
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#17327729998802750-511: Is a professional non-profit theater, and is also home to the Young Repertory Theater. Immediately to the southwest is Helen Putnam Regional Park , accessible from Chileno Valley Road. This park of 216 acres (0.9 km) has trails for hiking, cycling and horseback riding and is one of two parks named in honor of former mayor Helen Putnam who served from 1965 to 1979; the other is Putnam Plaza on Petaluma Boulevard. Lying above
2875-413: Is being done around Petaluma to finish the widening within Sonoma County; the widening also involves upgrading the highway to full freeway standards . Marin County, California Marin County ( / m ə ˈ r ɪ n / mə- RIN ; Spanish : Condado de Marín ) is a county located in the northwestern part of the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California . As of
3000-415: Is characterized by typically warm days and cool nights with a large degree of diurnal temperature variation . Summer mornings often start out foggy and chilly, but the fog usually clears by midday or so, giving way to clear skies and warmth for the remainder of the day. August is usually the warmest month, with average daily temperatures ranging from 82 °F (28 °C) to 53 °F (12 °C). December
3125-1039: Is considered in the California Floristic Province , a zone of extremely high biodiversity and endemism . There are numerous ecosystems present, including Coastal Strand , oak woodland , mixed evergreen forest , and Coast Redwood Forests chaparral and riparian zones . There are also a considerable number of protected plant and animal species present: Fauna include the California red-legged frog ( Rana draytonii ) and California freshwater shrimp while flora include Marin Dwarf Flax, Hesperolinon congestum ; Tiburon Jewelflower, Streptanthus niger ; and Tiburon Indian paintbrush, Castilleja neglecta . A number of watersheds exist in Marin County, including Walker Creek , Lagunitas Creek , Miller Creek , and Novato Creek . Notably,
3250-694: Is in California's 2nd congressional district , represented by Democrat Jared Huffman . From 2008 to 2012, Huffman represented Marin County in the California State Assembly . In the California State Legislature , Marin County is in: For most of the 20th century, Marin County was a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. From 1880 until 1984, the only Democrats to win there were Woodrow Wilson , Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson . However,
3375-416: 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
3500-769: 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
3625-721: Is no longer used for the chicken industry, but is being evaluated for preservation and change of use. While it is no longer known as the Egg Capital of the World, Petaluma maintains a strong agricultural base today with dairy farms, olive groves, vineyards, and berry and vegetable farms. According to the Army Museum at the Presidio, San Francisco, Petaluma was relatively unharmed during the San Francisco earthquake of April 18, 1906, due to significant stable bedrock underlying
3750-591: Is one of the highest-income counties by per capita income and median household income. The county is governed by the Marin County Board of Supervisors . The Marin County Civic Center was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and draws thousands of visitors a year to guided tours of its arch and atrium design. In 1994, a new county jail facility was embedded into the hillside nearby. The United States' oldest cross country running event,
3875-539: Is one of the original 27 counties of California, created February 18, 1850, following adoption of the California Constitution of 1849 and just months before the state was admitted to the Union. According to General Mariano Vallejo , who headed an 1850 committee to name California's counties, the county was named for "Marin," great chief of the tribe Licatiut." Marin had been named "Huicmuse" until he
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4000-557: 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
4125-602: Is simply an abbreviation of this name. Francis Drake and the crew of the Golden Hind was thought to have landed on the Marin coast in 1579 claiming the land as Nova Albion . A bronze plaque inscribed with Drake's claim to the new lands, fitting the description in Drake's own account, was discovered in 1933. This so-called Drake's Plate of Brass was revealed as a hoax in 2003. In 1595, Sebastian Cermeno lost his ship,
4250-401: 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
4375-463: 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
4500-467: Is usually the coldest month, with average daily temperatures ranging from 57 °F (14 °C) to 39 °F (4 °C). Winter is cool and rainy, with frost occasionally occurring on clear nights. Weather Underground 's reporting station in Petaluma had a record high temperature of 111 °F (44 °C) on September 6, 2020. The record low temperature of 16 °F (−9 °C) was recorded on November 14, 1916, and December 14, 1932. The wettest year
4625-681: 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
4750-784: The 2020 census , the population was 262,231. Its county seat and largest city is San Rafael . Marin County is across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, and is included in the San Francisco–Oakland–Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area . Marin County's natural sites include the Muir Woods redwood forest, the Marin Headlands , Stinson Beach , the Point Reyes National Seashore , and Mount Tamalpais . Marin
4875-400: The 2020 presidential election . Marin has voted for many gubernatorial candidates who went on to become high-profile national figures, including Richard Nixon , Ronald Reagan , Jerry Brown , and Dianne Feinstein . On November 4, 2008, the citizens of Marin County voted strongly against Proposition 8 , a constitutional amendment which eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry, by
5000-523: 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
5125-544: 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
Petaluma, California - Misplaced Pages Continue
5250-560: The Chief Petty Officer Academy at the TRACEN. Academy trains senior non-commissioned officers ( Chief Petty Officers ) for both the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Air Force . The California National Guard operates an armed forces facility in Petaluma. The Petaluma Arts Center is located here. The annual Butter and Eggs Day Festival is a celebration of Petaluma's culture and heritage. The Cinnabar Theater
5375-561: The Dipsea Race , takes place annually in Marin County, attracting thousands of athletes. Modern mountain biking has many early origins on the slopes of Mount Tamalpais in Marin. San Quentin State Prison is located in the county. Thousands of years ago, Coast Miwok people first populated the area today known as Marin County. In 1770, Coast Miwok population ranged from 1,500 to 2,000, with about 600 village sites throughout
5500-571: The Golden Gate on December 27: "...we came to anchor near the mouth of the bay, under a high and beautifully sloping hill, upon which herds of hundreds and hundreds of red deer [note: "red deer" is the European term for "elk"], and the stag, with his high branching antlers, were bounding about...," although it is not clear whether this was the Marin side or the San Francisco side. The 2010 United States Census reported that Marin County had
5625-545: The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation , a female in Marin County could expect to live 85.0 years, the longest for any county in the United States. The national average is 80.8 years for a female. According to the 2010 United States Census , the racial composition of Marin County was as follows: According to the 2006–2008 American Community Survey (ACS), 81.3% of Marin County's residents were born in
5750-604: The San Agustin , while exploring the Marin Coast. The Spanish explorer Vizcaíno landed about twenty years after Drake in what is now called Drakes Bay . However the first Spanish settlement in Marin was not established until 1817 when Mission San Rafael Arcángel was founded partly in response to the Russian-built Fort Ross to the north in what is now Sonoma County . Mission San Rafael Arcángel
5875-521: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 828 square miles (2,140 km ), of which 520 square miles (1,300 km ) is land and 308 square miles (800 km ), comprising 37.2%, is water. It is the fourth-smallest county in California by land area. According to the records at the County Assessor-Recorder's Office , as of June 2006, Marin had 91,065 acres (369 km ) of taxable land, consisting of 79,086 parcels with
6000-553: The United States Census Bureau reports that per the 2020 United States Census , Petaluma had a population of 59,776. There were 22,756 households, with an average of 2.61 occupants. The population density increased to 4,146.8 per square mile compared to 2010 . The largest demographic groups remained Whites (75.9%) and Hispanics (21.6%), followed by Asians (4.2%), African Americans (1.3%), and Native Americans (0.8%). 22.0% of households in Petaluma report speaking
6125-455: 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
6250-559: The 1980s. Fifty percent of historical salmon habitat is now behind dams. Strong efforts are also being made to protect and restore undammed, headwater reaches of this Watershed in the San Geronimo Valley , where upwards of 40% of the Lagunitas salmon spawn each year and where as much as 1/3 of the juvenile salmon (or fry) spend their entire freshwater lives. The "Salmon Protection and Watershed Network" leads winter tours for
6375-642: The 19th century. The California State Legislature had been discussing legislation for forest-fire suppression as early as 1881, but the formal department did not come into being until approximately 1901. The Marin County Fire Department came into existence in its current incarnation on July 1, 1941, with passage of an ordinance and two resolutions by the Board of Supervisors. In the United States House of Representatives , Marin County
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#17327729998806500-403: The 2006–2008 ACS, English was the most commonly spoken language at home by residents over five years of age; those who spoke only English at home made up 77.1% of Marin County's residents. Speakers of non-English languages accounted for the remaining 22.9% of the population. Speakers of Spanish made up 11.7% of the county's residents, while speakers of other Indo-European languages made up 7.1% of
6625-609: The Lagunitas Creek Watershed is home to the largest remaining wild run of coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ) in Central California. These coho are part of the "Central California Coast Evolutionarily Significant Unit, " or CCC ESU, and are listed as "endangered" at both the state and federal level. Significant efforts to protect and restore these fish have been underway in the Watershed since
6750-438: 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
6875-521: 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
7000-493: 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
7125-518: The Petaluma River in the heart of productive farmland was critical to its growth during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Sailing scows , such as the scow schooner Alma (1892), and steamers plied the river between Petaluma and San Francisco, carrying agricultural produce and raw materials to the burgeoning city of San Francisco during the California Gold Rush . There were brothels downtown along Petaluma Boulevard, which used to be
7250-749: 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
7375-586: 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
7500-455: 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
7625-411: The United States. Approximately 80.0% of the county's residents were born in one of the fifty states or born abroad to American parents. Foreign-born individuals made up the remaining 18.7% of the population. Latin America was the most common birthplace of foreign-born residents; those born in Latin America made up the plurality (42.2%) of Marin County's foreign population. Individuals born in Europe were
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#17327729998807750-437: 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
7875-620: The area in the first three decades of the 20th century. Most of the settlers were secular Eastern European Jews; they founded today's B'nai Israel Jewish Center as a secular Jewish community center with no rabbi and only a small area for prayer. The community became active in the poultry industry, and some settlers joined the local labor movement and participated in leftist political organizing, leading to significant conflicts between integrationists who aimed to quietly integrate into Petaluma society and socialists who hoped to change it. With its large stock of historic buildings, Petaluma has been used as
8000-521: The brand of Republicanism prevailing in Marin County was historically a moderate one. Like most of the historically Republican suburbs of the Bay Area, it became friendlier to Democrats as the demographics of the area changed and the national party embraced social and religious conservatism. In 1984, it very narrowly voted for Walter Mondale and has supported the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since then. Out of all California counties , only San Francisco County voted more Democratic in
8125-438: The city is in the river's flood plain, which overflows its banks every few years, particularly in the Payran neighborhood. Principal environmental noise sources are U.S. Route 101 , Petaluma Boulevard, Washington Street and other major arteries. The number of residents that live in a zone of noise exposure greater than 60 CNEL is approximately 4,000. Petaluma has a mild Mediterranean climate ( Köppen : Csb ). Its dry summer
8250-570: The city of Petaluma on the northwest flank of Sonoma Mountain is the Fairfield Osborn Preserve , a nature reserve with a diversity of native plants and animals . Nearby to the southeast is Tolay Lake , the site of prehistoric seasonal settlement by Miwok and Pomo tribes. The mayor of Petaluma is Kevin McDonnell. The other six council members are Janice Cader Thompson, Brian Barnacle, Mike Healy, Karen Nau, Dennis Pocekay, and John Shribbs (Vice Mayor). Sonoma County, California Sonoma County ( / s ə ˈ n oʊ m ə / )
8375-438: 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
8500-544: The city was 84.16% White , 1.16% African American , 0.54% Native American , 3.91% Asian , 0.17% Pacific Islander , 6.08% from other races , and 3.98% from two or more races. 14.64% of the population were Hispanic . There were 19,932 households, out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who
8625-434: The city was taken to court by the Construction Industry Association. The city's restriction was upheld by the 9th Circuit Court in 1975 and the Supreme Court denied a petition for writ of certiorari in 1976. This court ruling still forms the foundation for most local growth management ordinances in California. Despite this history of planned development, the Petaluma City Council voted on April 13, 2009, to eliminate
8750-503: The city's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: The U.S. Coast Guard operates Training Center Petaluma just outside Petaluma, near Two Rock . It operates several of its class "A" and "C" schools at TRACEN Petaluma, including the Electronics Technician (ET), Culinary Specialist (CS), Health Service Technician (HS), Information Systems Technician (IT), Operation Specialist (OS), Storekeeper (SK), and Yeoman (YN) schools. The Coast Guard also operates
8875-427: 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
9000-462: 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
9125-643: The county's population resides on the eastern side, with a string of communities running along U.S. Route 101 and the San Francisco Bay, from Sausalito to Tiburon to Corte Madera to San Rafael and Novato . The interior contains large areas of agricultural and open space; West Marin , through which State Route 1 runs alongside the California coast, contains many small unincorporated communities whose economies depend on agriculture and tourism. West Marin has beaches which are popular destinations for surfers and tourists year-round. Notable features of
9250-629: The county. In 1967, the Marin Museum of the American Indian was established, with exhibits focusing on Coast Miwok artifacts, crafts, and artwork. As of 2021, Indigenous-led events include healing drumming, dogbane cordage demonstrations, trade feasts, and traditional dancing. During the Mexican-American war , areas of Marin County were seized by Americans as part of the conquest of California (1846–1847). Marin County
9375-497: 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
9500-404: 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,
9625-399: The county. The population density was 476 inhabitants per square mile (184/km ). There were 104,990 housing units at an average density of 202 units per square mile (78 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 84.0% White , 2.9% Black or African American , 0.4% Native American, 4.5% Asian , 0.2% Pacific Islander , 4.5% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. 11.1% of
9750-422: The demolition of the old homes and buildings. In the 1960s there was a counterculture migration out of San Francisco into Marin County and southern Sonoma County, in search of inexpensive housing in a less urban environment. The old Victorian, Queen Anne and Eastlake -style houses were restored. Historic iron-front buildings in the downtown commercial district were also rescued. Traffic and new home development for
9875-554: 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
10000-605: The entire planning department and lay off the whole planning staff. Planning Division responsibilities were subsequently contracted out to the consulting firm Metropolitan Planning Group, which re-hired some of the former planning staff and continues to operate planning services for the city. In the late 1990s, Petaluma was also known as Telecom Valley due to the telecom startup companies that seemed to multiply from one another, and offer great riches for early stockholders and employees. Two success stories were that of Advanced Fibre Communications (AFC) (now Tellabs), and Cerent , which
10125-400: The filming location for numerous movies set in the 1940s through the 1960s (see list of movies below). The historic McNear Building is a common film location. Petaluma pioneered the time-controlled approach to development. After Highway 101 was re-aligned as a freeway in 1955, residential development permits tripled, from 300 in 1969 to 900 in 1971. Because of the region's soaring population in
10250-710: 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
10375-416: 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
10500-417: The founder of Petaluma. Today, Petaluma is known for its well-preserved historic center and as a local hub for the Petaluma Valley region of Sonoma County. The Coast Miwok resided throughout Marin and southern Sonoma County . The village of Péta Lúuma ( Coast Miwok for "backside of the hill", or "sloping ridge") was east of the Petaluma River, with a number of other Coast Miwok villages nearby: Wotoki
10625-621: 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
10750-480: 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
10875-657: The main thoroughfare until U.S. Highway 101 was constructed in the 1950s. The Petaluma Historic Commercial District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The Sonoma County Bank Building was the home of the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company and the Petaluma Seed Bank until 2019. It was built in 1926. Petaluma soon became known for its grain milling and chicken processing industries, which continue to
11000-590: The male death row and the execution chamber of California . The Marin County Sheriff's Office serves as the county's main law enforcement agency. The Central Marin Police Authority is responsible for law enforcement in Larkspur , Corte Madera , and San Anselmo . The first formal fire department in what is now Marin County was The Tamalpais Forestry Association, formed around the turn of
11125-550: The median income for a family was $ 88,934. As of 2007, these figures had risen to $ 83,732 and $ 104,750. In May 2010, the county had the lowest unemployment rate in California . According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, however, in July 2010, Marin's unemployment rate rose to 8.3%. San Quentin State Prison of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is in the county. San Quentin houses
11250-513: The migration from their spawning grounds in the Lagunitas Creek area to the Pacific Ocean. This increase in migration was significantly up from the previous historic record for the same migration measured in 2006 at 11,000. In 2010, all of the county's beaches were listed as the cleanest in the state. When Richard Henry Dana Jr. visited San Francisco Bay in 1835, he wrote about vast tule elk ( Cervus canadensis nannodes ) herds near
11375-569: 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 ,
11500-483: The most part was rerouted to the east of downtown by the construction of Highway 101. The first official airmail flight took place in 1911, when Fred Wiseman carried a handful of mail from Petaluma to Santa Rosa, including letters from Petaluma postmaster John E. Olmstead and the mayor of Petaluma. Wiseman's plane ended up in the National Air and Space Museum . There was a substantial influx of Jewish residents to
11625-433: 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
11750-421: 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%)
11875-444: 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
12000-404: 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
12125-460: 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
12250-458: 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
12375-399: The populace. Speakers of Asian languages and indigenous languages of the Pacific islands made up 3.4% of the population. The remaining 0.7% spoke other languages. Source: According to the 2007–2009 ACS, there were 16 ancestries in Marin County that made up over 0.9% of its population each. The 16 ancestries are listed below: The median income for a household in the county was $ 71,306 and
12500-441: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2000, there were 100,650 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
12625-654: The population) lived in households, 361 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 363 (0.6%) were institutionalized. There were 21,737 households, out of which 7,541 (34.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 11,392 (52.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2,257 (10.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,052 (4.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,319 (6.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 207 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 5,372 households (24.7%) were made up of individuals, and 2,366 (10.9%) had someone living alone who
12750-402: The population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 19,828 people (34.2%) lived in rental housing units. As of the census of 2000, there were 54,548 people, 19,932 households, and 14,012 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,953 people per square mile (1,526/km). There were 20,304 housing units at an average density of 1,471/sq mi (568/km). The racial makeup of
12875-424: The present day as a smaller fraction of its commerce. At one time, Petaluma was known as the "Egg Capital of the World," sparking such nicknames as "Chickaluma". Petaluma hosted the only known poultry drugstore and is the place where the coal lamp egg incubator was invented by Lyman Byce in 1879. One of the largest historic chicken processing plants still stands in the central area of town; this 1930s brick building
13000-581: 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,
13125-674: 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
13250-401: The process of building EV charging stations and potential hydrogen filling stations. The city has identified about two dozen buildings and districts as Petaluma landmarks . Petaluma has a total area of 14.5 sq mi (37.6 km). 14.4 sq mi (37.3 km) of that is land and the remaining 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km) is water. Water is 0.74% of the total area. It
13375-498: The public to learn about and view these spawning salmon, and also leads year-round opportunities for the public to get involved in stream restoration, monitoring spawning and smolt outmigration, juvenile fish rescue and relocation in the summer, and advocacy and policy development. Around 490 different species of birds have been observed in Marin County. Despite the lack of rain in the Marin County area due to historic drought levels, in 2014, an estimated 20,000 juvenile Coho salmon made
13500-415: 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
13625-458: The region. As one of the few communities in the region left standing after the earthquake, Petaluma was the staging point for most Sonoma County rescue and relief efforts. There are extant pre-1906 buildings and Victorian homes on the western side of the river. The downtown area has suffered many river floods over the years and during the Depression commerce declined. A lack of funds prevented
13750-458: The second largest foreign-born group; they made up 25.3% of Marin County's foreign population. Immigrants from Asia made up 23.7% of the county's foreign population. Those born in other parts of North America and Africa made up 3.9% and 3.8% of the foreign-born populace respectively. Lastly, residents born in Oceania made up a mere 1.2% of Marin County's foreign population. Source: According to
13875-992: The shoreline along the San Francisco Bay include the Sausalito shoreline, Richardson Bay , the Tiburon Peninsula , Ring Mountain , and Triangle Marsh at Corte Madera . Further north lies San Quentin State Prison along the San Rafael shoreline. The Marin County Department of Parks and Open Space manages numerous county parks and open spaces, including Stafford Lake County Park . The Marin Municipal Water District has 130 mi (209 km) of trails. Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems: Marin County
14000-417: The sixties, the city enacted the "Petaluma Plan" in 1971. This plan limited the number of building permits to 500 annually for a five-year period beginning in 1972. At the same time Petaluma created a redbelt around the town as a boundary for urban expansion for a stated number of years. Similar to Ramapo, New York , a Residential Development Control System was created to distribute the building permits based on
14125-498: 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
14250-512: 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
14375-470: Was 1998 with 45.93 inches (1,167 mm) and the driest year was 1976 with 8.29 inches (211 mm). The wettest month was February 1998 with 19.59 inches (498 mm). The most precipitation in 24 hours was 4.29 inches (109 mm) on December 27, 2004. Although snow is rare in Petaluma, 1.5 inches (38 mm) fell in January 1916, as well as about 3 inches (76 mm) in January 2002. Data released by
14500-432: Was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.90. In the county, 20.3% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males. According to the most recent data on U.S. life expectancy, published in 2010 by
14625-402: Was 40.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males. There were 22,736 housing units at an average density of 1,569.2 per square mile (605.9/km), of which 14,159 (65.1%) were owner-occupied, and 7,578 (34.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.8%. 37,389 people (64.5% of
14750-421: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63. There were 14,701 families (67.6% of all households); the average family size was 3.14. The population was spread out, with 13,455 people (23.2%) under the age of 18, 4,589 people (7.9%) aged 18 to 24, 15,041 people (26.0%) aged 25 to 44, 17,273 people (29.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 7,583 people (13.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
14875-425: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.16. The age distribution is: 26.2% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males. The median income for
15000-528: Was baptized as "Marino" at about age 20. Marin / Marino was born into the Huimen people, a Coast Miwok tribe of Native Americans who inhabited the San Rafael area. Vallejo believed that "Chief Marin" had waged several fierce battles against the Spanish. Marino definitely did reside at Mission Dolores (in modern San Francisco) much of the time from his 1801 baptism and marriage until 1817, frequently serving as
15125-539: Was founded in what is now downtown San Rafael as the 20th Spanish mission in the colonial Mexican province of Alta California by four priests, Father Narciso Duran from Mission San Jose , Father Abella from Mission San Francisco de Asís , Father Gil y Taboada and Father Mariano Payeras , the President of the Missions, on December 14, 1817, four years before Mexico gained independence from Spain. According to
15250-450: Was immediately to the south of Péta Lúuma , on the opposite side of the river; Etem, Likatiut, and Tuchayalin were near today's downtown; and Tulme and Susuli were just north of today's city limits. The Petaluma area was part of a 66,000-acre (270 km) 1834 Mexican land grant by Governor Jose Figueroa to Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo called Rancho Petaluma . In 1836, Vallejo ordered construction of his Rancho Petaluma Adobe,
15375-475: Was purchased by Cisco . Some Cerent employees went on to purchase the Phoenix Theater , a local entertainment venue, which was once an opera house. In 2021, Petaluma established a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. In March of that year, the city formally prohibited construction of new gas stations , becoming the first municipality in the world to enact such a ban. The city also streamlined
15500-489: 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
15625-546: 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
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