History Sonoma County, California

fort ross established russians in 1812.

the mission san francisco solano, founded in 1823 last , northernmost of 21 california missions, in present city of sonoma, @ northern end of el camino real. el presidio de sonoma, or sonoma barracks (part of spain s fourth military district), established in 1836 comandante general mariano guadalupe vallejo. duties included keeping eye on russian traders @ fort ross, secularizing mission, maintaining cooperation native americans of entire region, , doling out lands large estates , ranches. city of sonoma site of bear flag revolt in 1846.

sonoma 1 of original counties formed when california became state in 1850, county seat town of sonoma. however, 1850s, sonoma had declined in importance in both commerce , population, county buildings crumbling, , relatively remote. result, elements in newer, rapidly growing towns of petaluma, santa rosa, , healdsburg began vying move county seat towns. dispute between bigger, richer commercial town of petaluma , more centrally located, growing agricultural center of santa rosa. fate decided following election state legislature in james bennett of santa rosa defeated joseph hooker of sonoma , introduced bill resulted in santa rosa being confirmed county seat in 1854. allegedly, several santa rosans, not caring wait, decided take action and, 1 night, rode down sonoma valley sonoma, took county seals , records, , brought them santa rosa. of county s land annexed mendocino county between 1850 , 1860.

early post-1847 settlement , development focused on city of sonoma, region s sole town , common transit , resting point in overland travel between region , sacramento , gold fields east. however, after 1850, settlement became city of petaluma began grow naturally near farthest navigable point inland petaluma river. hunting camp used obtain game sell in other markets, 1854 petaluma had grown bustling center of trade, taking advantage of position in river near region of highly productive agricultural land being settled. soon, other inland towns, notably santa rosa , healdsburg began develop due locations along riparian areas in prime agricultural flatland. however, development lagged behind petaluma which, until arrival of railroads in 1860s, remained primary commercial, transit, , break-of-bulk point people , goods in region. after arrival of san francisco , north pacific railroad in 1870, santa rosa began boom, equalling , surpassing petaluma region s population , commercial center. railroad bypassed petaluma southern connections ferries of san francisco bay.

six nations have claimed sonoma county 1542 present:

sonoma county severely shaken 1906 san francisco earthquake. displacements along fault averaged 15 feet (4.6 m).

in october 2017, area badly affected wildfire.