Positioned as the southernmost town in Sonoma County, Petaluma lies 39 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge placing it within commuting range of the larger southern economic centers of Marin and San Francisco to the south as well as within commuting range of Santa Rosa to the north. Despite substantial growth in the last two decades, Petaluma has retained its family-friendly focus. Petaluma’s city planners and developers are working together to maintain Petaluma’s architectural integrity and the result is a lovely and historical downtown area with bustling retail stores, restaurants and nightlife.

In addition to the core waterway, there are over three dozen parks providing recreational entertainment for Petaluma residents. Petaluma has 22 tennis courts, numerous ball fields, and two 18 hole golf courses (Adobe Creek and Rooster Run). Kids may enjoy the Petaluma Skateboarding Park located behind the Petaluma Swim Center. Walking tours include the Historic Downtown Walking Tour and the Victorian Homes Walking Tour. Hiking opportunities in the greater Petaluma area include several regional parks with terrain varying from marshes to wetlands to the foothills.

Try cheese tasting and picnicing at the generations-old cheese factory or take a bicycle tour along Petaluma’s scenic back roads. Dining choices in Petaluma run the gamut. Evening entertainment options include plays at the Cinnabar Theater and McNear’s restaurant and Mystic Theater offering meals, a bar and popular live music. Petaluma has many festivals and several arts organizations.

Weather
Due to its southern location and proximity to San Pablo Bay, Petaluma’s climate is more moderate than its northern neighbors. Summertime temperatures in Petaluma average between 65 and 85 degrees, with a comfortable level of humidity. Winters average between 35 and 60 degrees, rarely freezing, with rainfall averaging 25 inches.

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Housing
Currently, over 50,000 people call Petaluma home, reflecting growth of about 25% since the 1990’s. This grown is largely due to Petaluma’s comfortable town feeling, moderate climate as well as affordable housing relative to communities farther south. Petaluma is also attractive to Bay Area home buyers due to its easy commute to higher wage paying communities in the Bay Area. Over the last decade high-tech industry growth earned the area the name “Telecom Valley”; now manufacturing and high-tech are among the top industries in the region, along with tourism and agriculture.

Housing choices within Petaluma vary widely from original farmhouses on acreage along the western fringes of town, to authentic Victorians in town. Plus, numerous mobile home park and several senior housing options are available. Petaluma’s newer homes and condominiums, subdivisions and shopping areas have been built in recent decades along the east side of Petaluma to accommodate the influx of new residents attracted by Petaluma’s affordable housing, easy lifestyle and comfortable climate.

History
Founded in 1852, Petaluma’s early heritage was agricultural. At one point Petaluma was known as “the world’s egg basket”. Today, only a fraction of the original chicken ranches still survive, and economies of scale forced consolidation among the dairies. Petaluma’s dairy industry is still a major economic force. Many ranches are still used for grazing and the production of hay, lending a bucolic ambiance to Petaluma’s rural surroundings.

In the heart of Petaluma, along the Petaluma River, is a port accessible to the San Francisco Bay, via San Pablo Bay. Today Petaluma’s docks are primarily used for recreation, including sailing, fishing, cruising, crew and kayaking. But just one hundred years ago, the docks were the primary means of transporting Petaluma’s agricultural products to the greater Bay Area. Prior to that, the port was used to transport wild game to feed the miners during the Gold Rush.

The docks contributed so much to the commercial success of the community that, in the 1860’s, Petaluma was one of the 10 largest cities in California. Most of the original Petaluma downtown survived the great earthquake of 1906, so many of the city’s charming original store fronts and Victorian homes still stand. Learn more about Petaluma’s history by visiting the Petaluma historical library and museum that is housed in a landmark neo-classical building at 20 Fourth Street in the historic downtown. Long term planning within Petaluma calls for a scenic downtown walking path along the river. Pedestrian and bicyclist access is written into the Central Petaluma Specific Plan. The Basin Street Theater District is another reclamation / renovation project well underway with mixed use buildings housing apartments with office / retail on the street levels.

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