Petaluma CA - Information and Resources

Petaluma, founded in 1858, with a current population of nearly 60,000, is located in Sonoma County, just 32 miles north of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. Centrally located on Highway 101 (North/South) and Highway 116 (East/West), Petaluma CA is an ideal home base for exploring Sonoma County’s wine country, the redwoods, the California coastline, Point Reyes National Seashore and the entire Bay Area.

The Petaluma Valley has seen a succession of populations, beginning with the Petaluma Native Americans, Spanish explorers, and Mexican vaqueros. The Petaluma River was once the third most commercially trafficked waterway in California. For more about Petaluma CA check out visitor information www.visitpetaluma.com, Petaluma statistics US Census Petaluma, and what's going on www.petalumaonline.com.

City of Petaluma, CA

The City of Petaluma is one of California’s oldest cities. Chartered in 1858, Petaluma City’s exciting past can be seen as a microcosm of the history of California as a whole. Because Petaluma was miraculously untouched by the 1906 earthquake, a substantial number of exquisite Victorian homes and iron-front commercial buildings remain, making sightseeing particularly rewarding. Petaluma's carefully preserved Historic downtown area is on the National Register of Historic Places. Historic Downtown Petaluma Map.

Petaluma’s downtown area offers extraordinary diversity in shopping and dining experiences. Turn-of-the-century buildings house many antique shops, art galleries, restaurants, live entertainment and numerous city parks. Petaluma's riverfront downtown is surrounded by scenic back roads offering hiking and bicycling just minutes away. Visit www.petalumachamber.com for more information about the City of Petaluma, Ca.

Petaluma City Schools

"There are over 880 staff members in the Petaluma City Schools who, along with the larger school community, are responsible for the educational experiences of 7,800 students. There are six elementary schools in the Petaluma City (Elementary) School District with an enrollment of approximately 2,258. Class Size Reduction has been implemented in grades K - 3 at all elementary schools. There are also two charter schools operating under the Petaluma City Schools umbrella.

In the Petaluma Joint Union High School District there are two junior high schools, a community day school serving grades 7-9, two high schools, two small alternative/continuation high schools (one at each comprehensive high school site) and a continuation high school, with a combined enrollment of approximately 5,360.

The districts also have an independent study program (Valley Oaks School) as an alternative available to students in grades K - 12. All schools within the Petaluma City (Elementary) and Joint Union High School Districts offer special education services, along with Gifted and Talented Education (GATE). Special assistance is provided for all English learner students." For more information about Petaluma City Schools visit www.petalumacityschools.org. Also visit Petaluma Public Schools and Petaluma Private Schools for additional information about all schools in the Petaluma area.

Petaluma High Schools

Petaluma High School 201 Fair Street, Petaluma, California 94952-2594, 707-778-4651
Petaluma High School website www.petalumahighschool.org.

Carpe Diem High School 199 Fair Street, Petaluma, CA 94952-2594, 707-778-4796
Carpe Diem High School website www.carpediemhigh.org.

Casa Grande High School 333 Casa Grande Road, Petaluma, California 94954, 707-778-4677
Casa Grande High School website www.casagrandehighschool.org.

San Antonio High School 500 Vallejo Street, Petaluma, California 94952, 707-778-4758
San Antonio High School website www.sanantoniohighschool.org.

Sonoma Mountain High School 299 Casa Grande Road, Petaluma, California 94954, 707-778-4738
Sonoma Mountain High School website www.sonomamountainhigh.org.

Valley Oaks School 540 Vallejo Street, Petaluma, California 94952, 707-778-4794
Valley Oaks School website www.valleyoaksschool.org.

Petaluma Mystic Theater

McNear’s Mystic Theater is located in historic downtown Petaluma, California. The Petaluma Theater is "described by many as the North Bay’s Premier Music Venue. Built in 1911, The Mystic Theatre originally was host to live Vaudeville entertainment. In 1992 the theater was renovated to accommodate live music performances for up to 550 guests. There is a full bar and restaurant access making Petaluma’s Mystic Theatre first choice for a great night out." Visit Petaluma Mystic Theater www.mystictheatre.com, 23 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, Ca., 707.765.2121.

Petaluma Summer Music Festival

Cinnabar presents an annual Petaluma Summer Music Festival. Twelve concerts in all, "featuring the finest, rarest, most delightful music in the classical and world music realms, plus a few popular surprises."

"Cinnabar began as an opera company and continues to mount professional operas at prices amenable to all our patrons. Since 1973, Cinnabar is the only company of its type in Sonoma County. Using professional talent from throughout the Bay Area, Cinnabar presents the finest in rare, new and classic operatic and music theater. It also produces operas and musicals especially designed for presentation to the youth of the North Bay Area. In order to ensure that the operatic experience is also a fulfilling theatrical one, everything is sung in English. Cinnabar has commissioned operas and musicals and has staged American and West Coast premieres." Visit the Cinnabar Theater www.cinnabartheater.org/, 3333 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, CA 94952, 707-763-8920.

Petaluma Butter and Eggs Day

"Petaluma was once a bustling riverport that shipped North Coast farm products – literally millions of chicken eggs – down the Petaluma River and across the Golden Gate to San Francisco. By the 1930s, this riverport, which had been founded in 1852 on the site of a hunting camp, touted itself as "the World’s Egg Basket." Coops around the small city contained four million chickens that annually produced 41 million eggs for statewide distribution." Stately rivertown of Petaluma.

In the spring, Petaluma’s agricultural history is celebrated with the "Butter and Egg Days", a week long event including the Butter and Eggs Day parade in downtown Petaluma. The Butter and Egg Days festivities are designed to bring the Petaluma community together to celebrate its history and diversity, promote goodwill, recognize excellence in citizenship and have fun as a community, www.petalumadowntown.com/butterandeggdays.

Sonoma Marin Fair

The Sonoma-Marin Fair is an old-time fair held yearly in June featuring headliners, special attractions, contests, carnival, exhibits, livestock, agriculture, and a Northern California wine competition. "The Sonoma-Marin Fair promotes and showcases agriculture, while displaying the diverse talents, interests and accomplishments of the citizens of California, especially the youth of Sonoma and Marin counties. This is achieved by providing education, entertainment and recreational opportunities for the general public, while continually striving towards enhancing the promotion and preservation of California’s agricultural heritage." www.sonoma-marinfair.org.

The Sonoma-Marin Fair, produced by the 4th District Agricultural Association, is held at the Fairgrounds, 175 Fairgrounds Drive, 707 283-3247, in central Petaluma CA. Map and driving directions to the Sonoma Marin Fair.

Petaluma Outlet

Petaluma Outlet features 60 stores including Bose, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, Gap Outlet, Jones of New York, Liz Claiborne, Off 5th - Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet, Reebok, Van Heusen and more. Visit Petaluma Village Premium Factory Outlet located on Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, CA (707) 778-9300   Mon-Thu 10-8, Fri-Sat 10-9, Sun 10-6 Petaluma Outlet Mall Stores

Petaluma Living

Healthy Community Consortium: The mission of the Healthy Community Consortium is to build a healthy community by effecting lasting positive changes for the economic, social, spiritual and physical well-being of the community, www.healthycommunity.info.

Petaluma Neighborhood Groups: Building Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative

Petaluma News: Petaluma Argus Courier

Petaluma Senior Living: The mission of the South County Senior Forum is to close the gap in petaluma community retirement housing, healthcare, transportation, information and resource advocacy for Petaluma’s senior citizens. Petaluma Senior Living Forum

Petaluma Heritage: Petaluma Heritage Homes