Offering a combination of city and country living with an ideal climate, Santa Rosa is the largest and fastest growing city in Sonoma County. It is the county seat and the cultural and economic center of Sonoma County. It is the site of county administrative offices as well as several regional State and Federal offices.

Located 52 miles north of San Francisco, the city is 36 square miles in size. Housing is a diverse offering of newer tract and custom houses in the northwest and northeast. More traditional homes and neighborhoods are located in the southeast section of town, such as Bennett Valley and Rincon Valley, and the fine retirement community of Oakmont is located within the City’s boundaries.

Santa Rosa has 31 elementary schools, 5 junior high schools, 5 high schools, 1 continuation high school, 2 parochial high schools, 2 parochial elementary schools and one community college, Santa Rosa Junior College. In 1991 voters approved a bond measure to renovate and build additional secondary schools. Sequoia Elementary was honored by the White House for academic excellence in 1994. The Piner-Olivet Schools District passed a $10 million bond measure in early 1996 in order to renovate and add classrooms and improve technology. School rankings are generally high, but there is a wide range among the different schools due to a new test given to students as well as a change in the attendance boundaries for both high and junior high schools.

The City of Santa Rosa is blessed with more than 40 local parks, ranging in size from less than one acre to more than 150 acres. Spread throughout the city, these parks offer many facilities and activities including lighted softball fields, basketball courts, swimming pools, playgrounds, sailing, fishing, pony rides and even an animal farm.

Whether you are interested in a day trip or an extended weekend away from home, there is never a shortage of beautiful scenery and recreational opportunities to enjoy. There are more than 20 County Parks located in Sonoma County, 12 State parks and the beautiful Lake Sonoma/Warm Springs Dam and fish hatchery operated by the Federal government. These parks offer all manner of activities and facilities such as marinas, boat launching facilities, windsurfing and sailing, camping and hiking. Scenic Highway 1, which winds its way along the rugged Sonoma County coast, offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.

Distance to San Francisco 56 miles

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