Sonoma Attractions

Sonoma County

Location and general

Sonoma lies some 43mi/70km north of San Francisco on the beautifully situated U.S. 12, in the valley bearing the same name.

The name "Sonoma" is not, as often assumed, of Spanish origin, but can be traced back to the Wintun Indians who once lived here, and in whose language it meant "nose". However, exactly why this name was chosen when the town was founded in 1835 is uncertain.

History

The last of the 21 Californian mission stations was built in Sonoma in 1823.

From June 14th to July 9th 1846 Sonoma was the capital of the short-lived Republic of California, the Stars and Stripes of America giving way briefly to a flag with a bear as its emblem. In the morning mist of June 10th 30 cavalrymen from the Sacramento Valley drew up in front of the Casa Grande, the headquarters of the Mexican General Mariano Guadalupe, arrested him and his troops and proclaimed the Republic of California without a single shot being fired. William Ide was made President of the Republic.

An American man-of-war arrived in Monterey on July 7th, the day on which California became part of the United States. Two days later an advance guard arrived in Sonoma, thus finally putting an end to the "Grey Bear Revolution". However, the old bear flag lived on and in 1911 became the official flag of California.