Newsletter  - July 2025

 Newsletter                July 2025

Sonoma County is one of the 58 counties in California.  It is bordered on the north by Mendocino County, on the south by Marin County, on the east by Napa County, on the southeast by Solano County and on the northeast by Lake County.  The county seat is Santa Rosa.  Sonoma County includes 9 chartered cities:  Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Windsor, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Cotati, Petaluma, Rohnert Park and Sonoma. 

The county is divided into five supervisorial districts governed by a Board of Supervisors.  The five supervisors are:  District 1: Rebecca Hermosillo.  District 2: David Rabbitt.  District 3: Chris Coursey.  District 4: James Gore.  District 5: Lynda Hopkins. 

The original inhabitants of Sonoma County were people who migrated from Asia across the Bering Strait.  This was primarily across a land bridge during the last Ice Age when sea levels were lower.  Some travelers arrived by following the Pacific coastline in boats or on foot.  The first inhabitants in the new world were descendants of an ancient people in Siberia.  The people who came to what is now the United States were separate tribes.  Before Europeans and Mexicans came to California, Sonoma County was inhabited by the Pomo, Miwok, and Kashaya Indians. 

There are five recognized Native American Tribal Groups in Sonoma County.  They are the Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians, Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, and the Lytton Ranch Band of Pomo Indians.

In 1811, Russia sent settlers to America and established Fort Ross along the coast north of the Russian River. The Russians were interested in the sea otter trade and wanted an agricultural base to help their Alaskan settlements. They built Fort Ross which is a park today and is open to visitors. 

The first explorer of the California coast was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo.  Per his commission by the Viceroy of New Spain (Mexico) he sailed into what is now San Diego.  He continued north as far as Pt. Reyes, California.  In 1821, Mexico gained its independence from Spain.  Because Mexico could not keep full control of all its provinces, Americans flooded into California.  In 1846, after the Mexican War ended, California became a part of the United States. 

Mexico had settlers in California starting in 1823.  In that year, the city of Sonoma became Sonoma County’s first town, a pueblo and a military outpost under the jurisdiction of General Mariano Vallejo.  In that period, sections of Sonoma County were transformed into land-grant ranchos.  As an example, Vallejo’s holdings extended from Petaluma to the town of Sonoma.  Vallejo played a key role in the Mexican-American War.

The California Gold Rush in 1848 led to a huge influx of settlers.  This included thousands of Mexican miners, Chileans, Peruvians and Chinese settlers.

In 1850, the town of Sonoma became the first county seat.  That designation ended in 1854 due to a disputed election.  Santa Rosa then became the county seat. 

Many different groups of people from various parts of the world were among the first settlers in Sonoma County.  Italians started to arrive in significant numbers around 1885.  Many came from Tuscany where they had worked in the marble quarries of Carrara. The basalt industry in the county developed in the 1880’s.  The skill of these immigrants resulted in stone wineries and stone paving throughout the county.  Other Italians came from Genoa where their experience was in wine making. This knowledge was a reason for the establishment of the Italian Swiss Agricultural Colony at Asti in 1881.  In Santa Rosa, Italians started produce, grocery and wine businesses.  Italian restaurants, bakeries and groceries were started and prospered. 

Many German immigrants came to Sonoma County in the mid 1800’s.  The German immigrants came from different regions of Germany and worked in a variety of occupations.  They were entrepreneurs, financiers, merchants, hoteliers, barbers and academics.  Many came during the mid-1800’s when there was a great deal of social unrest in Germany due to the German Revolution of 1848 and the Franco-Prussian War of 1871.  Charles Krug escaped from jail in Germany and went to San Francisco in 1853 to edit a German-language newspaper.  Later, he bought land and planted vineyards in Sonoma and then Napa.

Sonoma County has many old and proven producers of all kinds of products. 

Crane                                 Melons                                                1852

Robert Young                    Wine                                                    1858

Dutton Ranch                    Wine and Organic Apples                   1880

Martinelli                           Grapes and Wine                                 1880

Sebastiani                          Wine                                                    1904

Trione                                Commerce and Wine                           1908

Serres                                Wine, Blueberries & Beef Cattle         1924

Sangiacomo                       Grapes and Wine                                 1927

As we review the history of Sonoma County, it becomes very clear that the county is a reflection of the United States.  Everyone comes from a different place, with different backgrounds and different skills, ambitions and dreams.  Yet, we all come together to partake in and further the dream that is America.  That is why our country is such a gift.  No matter where we come from or who our parents were, if we take advantage of the American dream, we can live a life that is fulfilling and meaningful.