Encyclopedia
Sonoma is a historically significant town in Sonoma Valley,
Sonoma County, California,
USA. Sonoma is centered around its historic town plaza, a remnant of the town's Spanish
colonial past. Sonoma today is a center of the
wine industry for the famed Sonoma Valley Appellation. The city population was 9,128 as of the year 2000
census/decennial.
Geography
Sonoma is located at . According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.9 km² , none covered by water. The following areas are nearby:
...
- North-East
Environmental features
The active Rodgers Fault lies to the west of
Sonoma Creek; however, risk of major damage is mitigated by the fact that most of the soils beneath the city consis of a slight alluvial terrace underlain by strongly cemented
sedimentary and
volcanic rock. To the immediate south, west and east are deeper rich, alluvial soils that support valuable
agricultural cultivation. The mountain block to the north rises to 1,200 feet and provides an important scenic backdrop, around whose views the city's original streetscape was carefully laid out.
In terms of
fauna, there are a variety of
birds, small mammals and amphibians who reside in Sonoma.
California quail frequent the
riparian areas, while white tailed
kite,
towhee,
waxwing, robin, thrush and
sparrow bird species are found locally.
The town of Sonoma boasts a relatively quiet setting, with State Highway 12, Fifth Street and Spain Street being the primary noise sources. About eight miles south of the city is the
Infineon Raceway, which is also a significant noise generator. The total citywide population exposed to environmental noise exceeding 60 CNEL is approximately 300.
Demographics
As of the latest
census of 2000, there were 9,128 people, 4,373 households, and 2,361 families residing in the city. The
population density was 1,329.9/km² . There were 4,671 housing units at an average density of 680.6/km² . The racial makeup of the city was 93.80%
White, 0.36%
African American, 0.34% Native American, 1.70% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.61% from
other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. 6.85% of the population were
Hispanic.
There are 4,373 households of which 21.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.0% were non-families. 39.2% of households consist of individuals and 21.5% have someone living alone who is 65 or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.77. The age distribution is as follows: 18.6% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who have achieved age 65. The median age is 47 years. For every 100 females there were 81.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,505, and the median income for a family was $65,600. Males had a median income of $51,831 versus $40,276 for females. The per capita income for the city was $32,387. 3.7% of the population and 2.0% of families were below the
poverty line. 3.3% of those under 18 and 4.7% of those are 65 and older.
History
The region of Sonoma was originally the home of Native American
Coast Miwok tribes as well as the
Pomo people and
Wintuns. Many of the Native Americans still remain, even after seven changes in government since the Spanish first explored and took over the region
The town of Sonoma, El Pueblo de Sonoma, began with the
Mission San Francisco Solano founded in 1823 by Father Joseph Altimira of spain. This mission was the farthest north of all 21
California missions connected by a "Royal Road" called the El Camino Real. The Mission San Francisco Solano was the sole California mission established under the rule of a newly-independent
Mexico, and the last. Soon after it was built, it was secularized by the Mexican government, under the orders of Lieutenant, later General, Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. Under Vallejo's supervision, the El Presidio de Sonoma, or Sonoma Barracks , was built beside the mission for the his army, and he pursued control and order in the region over the native tribes and kept a military eye on the Russians of
Fort Ross. Vallejo's relationship with the Native Americans of the region was helped by another resident of Sonoma, his friend and ally the native called Chief Solano of the Suisunes who had been baptized at the mission.
El Pueblo de Sonoma was laid out in the standard form of a Mexican town, centered around the largest plaza in California. This plaza is surrounded by many historical buildings, including the
Mission San Francisco Solano, Captain Salvador Vallejo's
Casa Grande, the Presidio of Sonoma, the Blue Wing Inn, and the Toscano Hotel. In the middle of the plaza, Sonoma's early 20th-century city hall, at the plaza's center and still in use, was designed and built with four identical sides in order not to offend the merchants on any one side of the plaza. The plaza is a
National Historic Landmark and still serves as the town's focal point, hosting many community festivals and drawing tourists all year round.
Sonoma is known as the birthplace of
California, for it was in this town plaza that the
Bear Flag Revolt took place and a
Bear Flag was first raised on June 14, 1846. The rebelling men claimed to act on the orders of Col.
John C. Fremont proclaiming independence from Mexican rule and a free country called the
California Republic here. Sonoma served as the capital of the short-lived
California Republic until the United States Stars and Stripes flag was raised in its place.
General Vallejo was imprisoned during the Bear Flag Revolt of 1846, and he later transferred his allegiance to the U.S. and endorsed California statehood . With his amassed land holdings, Vallejo guided the development of the town of Sonoma. He was one of the most powerful residents in the town's history, dividing up the lands into large ranches for friends and family.
Sonoma County has a history of seven distinct, governmental claims from 1579 to the present. Sometimes referred to as "Seven Flags over Sonoma County", these periods are itemized as follows:
| St. George Cross of England, June 1579, voyage of the Golden Hind under Captain Francis Drake at Bodega Bay |
| Spanish Empire, 1602, by sea, voyage of the San Agustin under Vizcaino. October 1775, the Sonora at Bodega Bay, under Lt. Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra until 1821, when Mexico gained Independence from Spain |
| Russian-American Company, by Ivan Alexandrovich Kuskov, the founder of Fort Ross and, from 1812 to 1821, its colonial administrator. Note: There is an overlap of rule with the Mexican Empire , until the Russians sold Fort Ross in 1841 to John Sutter, and subsequent leaving the area in 1842 |
| Mexican Empire, 24 August 1821, Mexico under Emperor Agustin Iturbide until 1823 |
| Mexican Republic, 1823 until June 1846 at Sonoma |
| Bear Flag of the California Republic, June 1846, at Sonoma until 9 July 1846 |
| United States of America/California, 9 July 1846 |
Vallejo's arrest in 1846 was the initial act that founded the
Bear Flag Republic.
Sonoma is also considered the birthplace of
wine-making in California, dating back to the original vineyards of
Mission San Francisco Solano, then improvements made by Agoston Haraszthy, the father of California
viticulture and credited with introduction of the
Zinfandel/
Primitivo grape varietal. The Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival takes place late each September, and is California's oldest celebration of its winemaking heritage.
Notable Residents
Jack London claimed that Sonoma meant "The Valley of the Moon", which phrase is still applied to the town as well as the whole of Sonoma Valley.
Chuck Williams founder of
Williams-Sonoma, the food assessory chain store, started its existence on Broadway, two blocks from the Plaza, before moving to
San Francisco.
Steve Klein, a world-acclaimed
luthier, started his career and for many years maintained a store-front on Broadway just between Williams-Sonoma's original site and the Plaza.
Count Agoston Haraszthy, the father of California
viticulture, created the first
winery west of the Mississippi. He tried many locations but settled in Sonoma with General Vallejo's assistance. His first winery, Buena Vista, still exists today. The Count brought numerous cuttings from Europe prior to Europe's
phylloxera or
wine-blight of 1836. He later re-patriated some cuttings back to Europe to replenish the vineyards from which he obtained the originals.
B.R. Cohn: Vintner and Winery Owner [also owns a line of Olive Oils and Vinegars] is equally noted as being the business manager for the rock-group
The Doobie Brothers. Mr. Cohn hosts a yearly charitable event most often featuring The Doobie Brothers and others. The ability to enjoy wine under the olive trees on the property while only being inches from the makeshift stage housing the band, is an endearing event.
John Lasseter is an animator and the chief creative executive at
Pixar Animation Studios. Many praise him as the "current
Walt Disney." [1].
He is a founding member of Pixar, where he oversees all of Pixar's films and associated projects as an executive producer. He personally directed and wrote or co-authored
Toy Story,
A Bug's Life,
Toy Story 2,
Monsters, Inc., and Cars. Lasseter won two
Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film and Special Achievement Award . [2].
Sebastiani Vineyards: A pioneering family founded by August Sebastiani still is family owned and operates a winery and facilities in the town of Sonoma.
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo : Last Spanish Governor of the Californias and Spanish land grants north of Mexico proper. His residence in Sonoma was the site for a portion of the
Bear Flag revolt which made California a Republic. Vallejo was elected a member of the first State Senate and devoted the remainder of his life to developing the new state of California.
General
Hap Arnold an aviation pioneer and commander of the
United States Army Air Corps , commander of the
U.S. Army Air Forces and the first General of the
Air Force .
Historic Sites
...
:
- Mission San Francisco Solano - On July 4, 1823, Padre José Altamira founded the northernmost of California's Franciscan missions here, the only one established in California under independent Mexico.
- The home of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo - known as Lachryma Montis , was built in 1850.
- Bear Flag Monument
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| align=center colspan=2 |
...
- On June 14, 1846, the Bear Flag Party raised the Bear Flag in the Sonoma plaza and declared California free from Mexican rule.
Items named after the Town
- Sonoma Jack Cheese: Cheese, moist to very dry light colored cheese covered in chocolate powder and most credited to the Vella cheese making family. The Vella Cheese factory, former Sonoma Brewing Co. building, continues to make a variety of cheese products and is within walking distance of the Plaza.
- Chevrolet S-10 truck once made by GMC was named after the Town and County of Sonoma.
Bibliography
Points of Interest
...
, Fighting
Joe Hooker,
William T. Sherman,
Phil Sheridan, and members of the
Bear Flag Party.
- General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo Home: Official residence of the last Spanish Govenor.
External links
