Introduction to Rohnert Park, California
Rohnert Park, California, in Sonoma county, is 7 miles S of Santa Rosa, California (center to center) and 42 miles N of San Francisco, California. Most of the neighborhoods were developed around a park and an elementary school. The surrounding area features farms and grazing land. Sonoma county is one of the prominent wine producing locations in the world.
Rohnert Park History
The region was initially inhabited by the Coast Miwok Indians. In 1844 Captain Juan Castenada was given the Rancho Cotate by the Mexican Government which contained the area now called Rohnert Park. Dr. Thomas S. Page purchased Rancho Cotate in 1849 and divided up the land and sold it to settlers. The town was named in tribute to the Rohnert family which owned the successful Rohnert Seed Farm. The municipality was laid out based on a neighborhood concept. It was incorporated as a city in 1962.
Rohnert Park Attractions
- Speckles Performing Arts Center.
- Sonoma State University Art Gallery.
- Rohnert Park Association for the Arts.
- Rohnert Park Chamber Orchestra.
- Sonoma State University Center for the Performing Arts.
Rohnert Park Activities
The city offers a large number of parks for recreational activities. The Sonoma Valley and nearby Napa Valley feature excellent wineries and are popular tourist destinations. Annadel State Park includes areas for hiking and features a variety of attractive wildflowers. The Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve is a vast acreage and offers visitors a notable scenic trail. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park includes an extensive trail system and provides spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Sierra Nevada for those who reach the summit of Bald Mountain.
The nearby Tomales Bay State Park is a coastal area which includes sheltered coves, beach areas and a forest featuring Bishop pines. Cloverdale River Park has a small beach area and is popular for fishing and includes river access for kayakers. Crane Creek Regional Park has a rolling meadows landscape and is a great location for hiking, bicycle riding, picnicking and horseback riding. Golfers enjoy Foxtail Golf Club and the nearby cources.
Rohnert Park Higher Education
The city is home to Sonoma State University.