| Santa Rosa, the largest
city in Sonoma County, and also the County
Seat, has been recognized by Forbes Magazine
as a very attractive place to live and do
business. Roughly 30% of the county’s
population calls Santa Rosa home and over
40% of the county’s population works
here. The top four categories of employment
in Santa Rosa are services, retail, manufacturing
and government which account for about 75%
of employment.
With a growing population of over 150,000,
Santa Rosa’s populace is facing its
growth-related challenges head-on. The city
has voted in favor of measures supporting
increases in public services, revitalization
of dilapidated areas and expanding city
infrastructure (i.e., roads & highways).
Santa Rosa is divided into four main sub-regions
that are defined by the intersection of
Hwy. 12 and Hwy. 101. These four sub-regions
have distinct socio-economic, terrain and
weather characteristics. Working with an
agent to ensure you understand these differences
can be very helpful in assuring your long
term satisfaction with your next home purchase.
Weather
Santa Rosa’s climate is sunny and
Mediterranean, with summertime temperatures
ranging from the mid to upper 80’s
and occasionaly beyond. Evenings will typically
cool to the upper 40’s and 50’s.
With such wonderful weather, Santa Rosa
residents can enjoy many outdoor activities.
Wintertime temperatures average between
the mid 30’s to the mid 50’s.
Average rainfall is about 30 inches per
year, concentrated between the months of
December and March.
Click
here for current weather conditions
Click below for detailed information on
Santa Rosa’s sub-regions.
NORTHWEST SANTA ROSA
The Northwest segment of the city is among
the newest. This area includes the Coddingtown
Mall, many individual retail stores, schools
and the area known as Fulton. For recreation
there are several neighborhood parks, Northwest
Community Park, the Finley Community Center
& Aquatic Park swim facilities, the
Redwood Empire Ice Arena and the Charles
Schultz Museum.
At the far north end of this area lies
the Sonoma County Airport with the Pacific
Coast Air Museum and the California Coast
Wine Center. At the far south end of this
quadrant is the historic Railroad Square
area, with restaurants, shops, and the Santa
Rosa Convention and Visitors Bureau. Much
of this area has been renovated with careful
attention to maintaining the buildings’
original flavor and historical authenticity.
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Housing in Northwest Santa Rosa:
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There
is a wide selection of housing available
in northwest Santa Rosa, including many
homes that are less than 20 years old.
In addition, many newer subdivisions
have been built in this sector of town.
There are also rural parcels that may
have larger lots or even acreage. |
SOUTHWEST SANTA ROSA
At the northernmost end of this quadrant
lies the Joe Rodota Trail, a multi-use paved
path for walkers and bicyclists that extends
through Sebastopol and onto Forestville.
The regional waste treatment plant, as well
as Auto Row, are part of this sector of
the city. South west Roseland Community
Park is in the middle of this quadrant of
town, near the Bellevue Ranch subdivision.
Laguna de Santa Rosa Wetlands Preserve borders
much of this area.
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Housing in Southwest Santa Rosa:
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Southwest
Santa Rosa extends out toward Sebastopol
where new subdivisions and town homes
are replacing formerly agricultural
areas. This part of the city tends to
be more affordable and less established,
in comparison with the Northeast or
Southeast areas of Santa Rosa. The region
is relatively level, but some homes
still enjoy views. In the outlying areas
buyers can sometimes find a small farm
or orchard with a home. |
NORTHEAST SANTA ROSA
Among Santa Rosa’s most prestigious
areas, Northeast Santa Rosa lies to the
north of Highway 12 and east of Highway
101 and spans the 800 acre Shiloh Regional
Park and Mayacama Golf Course to the north.
Fountaingrove lies in the middle of this
area and the Junior College “JC”
area to the south.
The Luther Burbank Cultural Center and
Center for the Arts hosts live concerts
across the musical spectrum, including the
Santa Rosa Symphony. The famous horticulturalist
Luther Burbank loved the soil and climate
here. The Luther Burbank Home and Gardens
are also located in this sector of town.
One of Santa Rosa’s most unique destinations
is Safari West, located 7 miles out Mark
West Springs Road.
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Housing in Northeast Santa Rosa:
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The
hilly terrain in this area offers many
homeowners spectacular views, a measure
of privacy, and the sense of place created
by mature oaks and landscaping. Home
owners in the outer Mark West area enjoy
the area’s rural ambiance, yet
are close to many recreational opportunities.
Northeast Santa Rosa’s neighborhoods
tend to be fairly well established.
For example, Rincon Valley’s original
ranchettes, the Grace Tract with its
well maintained landscaping and single
level homes, and the McDonald Avenue
area with lovely and prominent homes,
many of which were built between the
late 1800s and early 1900s. The prestigious
Fountaingrove area features modern,
upscale homes, many of which enjoy views.
Nearby is the Fountaingrove Resort,
Golf Course, lake and community park.
The JC neighborhood surrounds the Santa
Rosa Junior College offing a wide variety
of housing choices, ranging from Victorians
all the way through 1970’s ranch
style homes. Overall, these neighborhoods
are building up with newer housing and
townhomes filling in as space permits. |
SOUTHEAST SANTA ROSA
The southeast region of Santa Rosa has several
parks: Howarth Memorial Park the site of
Lake Ralphine and Spring Lake Park, both
of which offer hiking, fishing and boat
launch areas. The vast Annadel State Park
has miles of hiking, bicycling and jogging
trails.
Along Highway 12 the Sonoma County Fairgrounds
features a horse-racing track. Farther east
along Highway 12 is the Oakmont Golf Course,
and the Oakmont Adult Community. Around
the Bennett Valley area lies the Matanzas
Creek Reservoir and Dam, the Bennett Valley
Golf Course, and Bennett Valley Senior Center.
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Housing in Southeast Santa Rosa:
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The
housing inventory in southeast Santa
Rosa area is growing as new housing
developments are built in the Petaluma
Hill Road neighborhood and custom homes
are being built out in Bennett Valley.
The scenic rolling hills of Bennett
Valley form the backdrop for lovely
rural homes, many of which are on acreage
suitable for equestrian use or even
small hobby vineyards. Alternatively,
one can choose from homes in existing
neighborhoods like Montgomery Village
(homes built largely in the 1950’s),
Burbank Gardens (homes built in the
early 1900’s) as well as the older
homes and ranches in the outlying areas.
While some of these older homes are
smaller than new homes tend to be, for
some buyers the smaller home is offset
by the typically larger lot sizes. |
History
Santa Rosa was first inhabited by Native
Americans including the Pomo, Miwok, and
Wappo tribes. The Spanish arrived in the
early 1800's and the first land deed to
Rancho Cabeza de Santa Rosa was given to
Senora Maria Ignacia Lopez de Carrillo.
Later, according to legend, the area was
named Santa Rosa after a local Father baptized
and named a Native American woman Santa
Rosa on the day of the Feast of Santa Rosa
de Lima.
The Northeast sector of town is the oldest,
with a colorful history. Take for example
the Mark West area, at the northern end
of Santa Rosa near Mark West Springs Road
and the Mark West Creek. Mark West is named
after one of Sonoma County’s original
settlers who received thousands of agriculturally
productive acres as a result of a land grant
from the Mexican Governor Alvardo in 1840.
He was married in Mexico but moved to California
shortly thereafter to supply the Mexican
Government with cattle skins and lumber.
The original Wikiup Rancho from the 1920s
was located in the Mark West area, founded
by John Rosseter. His legacy included racing
greyhounds and thoroughbred horses (including
two Kentucky Derby winners) not to mention
Champion Black Angus Cattle. In the mid
to late 1900’s Wikiup was developed
into a planned community, which now includes
the Wikiup Professional Park situated along
the creek.
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