Native Tribes
We talk a lot about Wine Country and “the good life.” But, Sonoma County’s first inhabitants, the people of the Pomo, Miwok and Wappo tribes, seem to be the ones who really knew how to live. Most historical accounts describe them as quite peaceful societies. Survival wasn’t so tough with all the plentiful fruits and fish and wildlife and the mild winters. Plus, back then, they didn’t have a mortgage to worry about. So, they ended up with a lot of free time to do all those things that people wish they could do if they just had more free time. They could hang out with their family and friends, sing and dance, embrace their spirituality, enjoy nature, and create art.For example, the Pomo Indians made a huge variety of baskets for many needs. But, they also had the time to nurture their talents and create baskets that were not only functional but artistic and beautiful as well. In fact, Pomo baskets are among the most prized, if not the most prized, in the world. Some of the larger collections can be found at the Smithsonian and at the Kremlin. There’s also a nice one at the Jesse Peter Museum at Santa Rosa Junior College. And the Mendocino County Museum in Willits houses some baskets by Elsie Allen. Allen was a famous Pomo Indian educator, activist and basket weaver who lived in Sonoma County in the early to mid-1900s. Elsie Allen High School in southwest Santa Rosa is named after her.
The First European Settlers
Some people think Sir Frances Drake, the first Englishman to sail around the world, landed in Bodega Bay’s Campbell Cove in 1577, during that famous expedition. (About 50 years before that, Ferdinand Magellan of Portugal was the first person in known history to circumnavigate the globe.) But, so far, no one knows for sure where he landed, and it’s a rather controversial topic as cities up and down the coast vie for the distinction.What we do know is that the first permanent settlement built in Sonoma County by non-natives wasn’t built by the English and it wasn’t built by the Spanish. It was built by the Russians.
Many Russian trappers had gone to Alaska to kill otters for their prized fur. As the otter population dwindled, the trappers moved further south. In 1812 a group of them landed at Bodega Bay and founded a settlement north from there. They named the fort “Ross,” an old name for “Russia.” ( Fort Ross is now a California State Park.)
The Spanish, were not happy about this. They were making their way up from Mexico along Coastal California building Missions and claiming land for Spain. The new Russian Fort inspired them to hurry up beyond San Francisco and built new Missions further north and grab the territory before anyone else moved in. And Father Jose Altimira, an ambitious young priest at the Mission San Francisco, figured he was just the man to do it.
Altimira headed up north and checked out a lot of property in the Petaluma, Suisun and Napa valleys. He finally chose the Sonoma Valley as the ideal place to live. The Francisco Solano Mission, better known as the Sonoma Mission, was built in what would become the town of Sonoma. By that time, Mexico had already declared its independence from Spain, And shortly after, the Mexican government decided to do away with the mission system altogether. So the mission in Sonoma was the last and northernmost one built, and the only one built under Mexican rule. If you look at a map you can see how Spanish / Mexican influence waned right around where the final mission was built. As you go north up through the California coast, you’ll see many towns with names beginning with San and Santa, Los and Las. Santa Rosa is the final one.
Although the Sonoma Mission was built to thwart colonization by others, particularly the Russians, the Russians didn’t seem to take offense. In fact, the folks from Fort Ross not only showed up for the dedication of the mission’s church, but they even brought along altar cloths, candlesticks and a bell.
The mission grew, but by the 1830s the Mexican government decided to dissolve the mission system. The 27-year-old General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo was sent to Sonoma in 1835 to oversee the secularization of the Sonoma Mission. He was also given orders to settle the area to assert Mexican claim and preclude the Russians from advancing.