Overview of Santa Rosa
"...this is the chosen spot of all this earth as far as Nature is concerned."
Luther Burbank, a renowned horticulturist and one of the most famous Americans of the 19th Century, made his home in Santa Rosa, and the above quote is his description of this area.
You can see this natural beauty everywhere you go. Flowers bloom in every corner and trees cover the landscape. Plus, you can enjoy the outdoors almost year-round because the weather here is wonderful.
Weather: This is a Mediterranean climate so it doesn’t get too hot and it doesn’t get too cold. Summertime temperatures range in the 80s, higher for a couple of weeks out of the year. Evenings usually cool down to the 50s. Winter temperatures are usually in the mid-30s to mid-50s. But, in the winter, it does rain quite a bit. Average rainfall is around 30 inches per year, most of it falling from December to March.
Population: About 155,000. Santa Rosa is the fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, following San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland and Fremont. It is the county seat of Sonoma. Go here for additional city demographics .
Location: 50 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. 30 miles east of the Pacific Ocean
Santa Rosa Highlights:
- Tourism: Located just one hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Santa Rosa is the largest city in the California Wine Country and a center of tourism. For visitors, Santa Rosa offers a central location from which to explore Wine Country, plus there are world-class restaurants, many hotel accommodations, nightlife, arts, a rich history and attractions.
- Food and Wine: Like the rest of Wine Country, Santa Rosa is famous for its outstanding food and wine. Chef and food educator John Ash, of Santa Rosa, has been a guiding force behind Wine Country Cuisine, which emphasis fresh, locally-produced foods paired with wine. There are a number of world-class restaurants in town, including John Ash & Co., Syrah, and zazu. Great food can also be found at the area farmer’s markets, specialty food shops, and the Sonoma County Farm Trails. While a number of wineries, such as St. Francis, Ledson, Paradise Ridge, Matanzas Creek, and more, dot the landscape.
- Recreation and Parks: The beauty of the outdoors is a major component of this area's identity. This also includes man made features such as numerous bike paths, public pools, about 60 city parks, plus excellent programs, classes and camps through the city’s Recreation and Parks Department . In addition, Santa Rosa boasts the tri-parks area of Howarth Park, Spring Lake and Annadel Park.
- Famous Locals and Famous Film Locations There have been a number of famous Santa Rosa locals, including horticulturist Luther Burbank, Robert Ripley of Ripley’s Believe it or Not! and Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz. Plus, the town itself has had its own brushes with fame as the location for dozens of films such as Peggy Sue Got Married , Scream and Shadow of a Doubt, which was Hitchcock’s personal favorite of all his films.
- Festivals: The Sonoma County Fair, Sonoma County Harvest Fair , Luther Burbank Rosa Parade, Health and Harmony Festival, and many more annual events take place here.
- Arts: The Wells Fargo Center for the Arts and the Santa Rosa Symphony , the Sonoma County Art Museum, 6th Street Playhouse,the central gallery for ARTrails, public art and more, are all located within the city.
Orientation to Santa Rosa
Highway 101 runs north - south through the middle of Santa Rosa, dividing the city into an eastern and western half. Highway 12 runs east – west through Santa Rosa and cuts it into a northern and southern half. So, it’s easiest to think of the city as having four quadrants:
Next (Downtown)
