Sonoma County’s southernmost and second largest city is an inland port on the Petaluma River with access to San Francisco Bay and the Delta. The turn-of-the-century atmosphere downtown is portrayed by historic iron front buildings, antique shops and covered sidewalks. Historic yet modern, this riverfront community offers Victorian mansions on the western side of town, ranch estates on the hillsides and recently developed residential areas east of Highway 101.

Petaluma’s architectural heritage dates from the late 1800s when the city served as a supply center for the gold camps, and later a river town shipping goods throughout the region. The iron front buildings in downtown Petaluma are considered some of the finest examples of this architecture in the United States. There are literally hundreds of renovated Victorian homes throughout the town, and walking tours allow visitors to enjoy these beautiful homes from a bygone era. In 1830, the great Mexican Commandante, General Mariano Vallejo, built California’s largest adobe hacienda and rancho, now a state historic park open to visitors.

There are seven elementary school districts serving the town and its nearby areas. There are two junior highs and two high schools. Academic rankings generally range from the 75th to the 90th percentile, meaning they are in the top 25% statewide. Voters approved a $75 million bond measure for Petaluma district improvements, with much of the work being completed in 1994. In 1995, the Old Adobe School District passed a $10.2 million bond measure to renovate existing schools and build a new elementary school. The highly regarded two-year Santa Rosa City College has opened a campus in Petaluma, and the 4-year Sonoma State University, offering many bachelor’s and master’s degrees, is located north of town in nearby Cotati.

There are seven city parks for picnicking and play, in addition to many Sonoma County Regional Parks and state parks offering everything from virgin redwood groves to hiking, fishing and camping. There are 22 tennis courts, baseball and softball fields, a swimming center, gyms, bowling alley, and golf course all located within the town. Additionally, there is a Boys and Girls Club, a teen center opened in 1995, and the City offers many wonderful recreation programs for the children.

Petaluma offers a full range of festivals and cultural events. There is the annual County Fair, a summer music festival, the River Festival, farmers’ market, museum, 8-screen movie theater, two playhouses and car races at the fairgrounds. The Petaluma Queen, a paddlewheeler riverboat, offers fine dining and river excursions. A new factory outlet center, auto mall, and small shopping mall have opened along Highway 101 bringing all the modern conveniences within the city limits, and Petaluma’s municipal airport is located on the city’s eastern border.

Distance to San Francisco 38 miles

Go Back