Bodega

History

The town of Bodega was known historically as Bodega Corners or Bodega Roads, to distinguish it from the Port of Bodega or Bodega Bay, as it is known today, which is about from Bodega. Bodega and Bodega Bay are named for discoverer of the bay, Juan Francisco Bodega y Caudra, who first sailed into the harbor in 1775. There were formerly two Coast Miwok villages in the area: one (called Kennekono) sited near the current town and another (called Suwutenne) further north. The first Europeans in the area were Russians who established temporary settlements at Bodega Bay and the Salmon Creek Valley, in the vicinity of Bodega, in 1809. In 1843, Captain Stephen Smith established the first West Coast lumber mill near Bodega. Around the same time, John A. Sutter bought land from the Russians, an area that included Bodega. His land purchase included "some hunting rights, a small boat, several rusty cannons, and some old muskets." In 1859, shipbuilders constructed Saint Teresa of Avila Church. Open from 1856 to 1967, Watson School, once served as Bodega's school, and is located in a Sonoma County Regional Parks Department historic park about east of Bodega.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of , all land. The Phacelia distans is known for blossoming in Bodega between April and June.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  20,693
• Western Gull

  Larus occidentalis Audubon, 1839 · Aves
  15,084
• California/Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

  Aphelocoma californica (Vigors, 1839) · Aves
  14,899
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  14,173
• Common Raven

  Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  13,716
• California newt

  Taricha torosa (Rathke, 1833) · Amphibia
  13,074
• Black Phoebe

  Sayornis nigricans (Swainson, 1827) · Aves
  12,906
• California Towhee

  Melozone crissalis (Vigors, 1839) · Aves
  12,741