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City of Sonoma | Chamber of Commerce | School District | Demographics | |
The birthplace of the
State of California, the
City of Sonoma is a
historic community
located in the heart of
the Northern California
wine country. A small
town of 8,900 residents,
Sonoma is the cultural
and commercial hub of
the Sonoma Valley, a
larger community of
36,000 with agriculture
and tourism the major
tax base. Conveniently
located about 45 minutes
from San Francisco,
Sonoma offers
vine-covered hillsides,
a historic downtown with
an 8-acre plaza ringed
with shops and
restaurants, and the
fruits of the valley's
farming community,
including world-renowned
cheeses and wines.
History: Downtown Sonoma is a national historic landmark. The Mission San Francisco Solano, the last of the California missions, is the historic cornerstone of the city. Constructed in 1823 under the direction of Father Altamira, it is located on the Sonoma Plaza along with numerous other historic structures, including the Swiss Hotel, the Blue Wing Inn, the Casa Grande Barracks, the Salvador Vallejo Adobe, the Sebastiani Theater, and the Sonoma City Hall. The Vallejo Home State Park, the residence and 60-acre estate General M.G. Vallejo, the town's founder, is located four blocks off the Plaza. Sonoma was the capital of the Bear Flag republic during the twenty-five day period of the Bear Flag revolt, which ultimately led to California's entry into the union as a state. The uprising began on June 14, 1846, culminating in the raising of the Bear Flag on the Sonoma Plaza. The 150th anniversary of this event will be celebrated in Sonoma during the summer of 1996. Wines:
Sonoma Valley is a federally-designated wine
appellation region, meaning that the climate, soils,
and topography of the valley produce grapes of a
distinctive and extraordinary character. Ranked as
one of the top wine producing regions in the world,
the valley boasts more than thirty award-winning
wineries and, with some of the oldest vineyards and
wineries in the state, is recognized as birthplace
California wine-making. The Sonoma Valley
appellation is honored in local restaurants by the
custom of serving locally-produced vintages in
distinctive blue-stemmed wine glasses. |
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