Graton

Geography

Graton has a total area of , all land. Graton is located at the southeastern end of Green Valley, on the east bank of the seasonally flooding Atascadero Creek. The elevation ranges from approximately above Mean Sea Level (MSL) at Atascadero Creek to MSL at Oak Grove School. Graton is noted as lying at the approximate furthest southern and eastern extent of Russian colonization of the Americas. Research on Fort Ross has indicated that several farms were developed inland from the coastal fur trading fort in northwestern Sonoma County. These farms or ranches were used for producing additional food and for agricultural projects conducted by Fort Ross's agronomist Yegor Chernykh. In 1836, a farm was established along Purrington Creek, between what are now the towns of Occidental and Graton. There Chernykh erected barracks and five other structures, and grew vegetables, fruit, wheat, and other grains. Chernykh also developed a large vineyard, introducing what has since become a major crop in the area. This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above . According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Graton has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated Csb on climate maps.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  25,771
• California/Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

  Aphelocoma californica (Vigors, 1839) · Aves
  23,284
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  23,051
• California Towhee

  Melozone crissalis (Vigors, 1839) · Aves
  22,157
• House Finch

  Haemorhous mexicanus (P.L.Statius Müller, 1776) · Aves
  20,829
• Anna's Hummingbird

  Calypte anna (R.Lesson, 1829) · Aves
  20,238
• Black Phoebe

  Sayornis nigricans (Swainson, 1827) · Aves
  17,253
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  16,404

Largest nearby schools

• Santa Rosa High
  High · Santa Rosa · 1,682 students · 19.1:1 ratio
• Windsor High
  High · Windsor · 1,603 students · 19.8:1 ratio
• Montgomery High
  High · Santa Rosa · 1,572 students · 20.4:1 ratio
• Analy High
  High · Sebastopol · 1,466 students · 19.3:1 ratio
• Piner High
  High · Santa Rosa · 1,361 students · 20.3:1 ratio
• Roseland Charter
  Other · Santa Rosa · 1,293 students · 20.2:1 ratio
• Cali Calmecac Language Academy
  Elementary · Windsor · 1,168 students · 22.5:1 ratio
• Elsie Allen High
  High · Santa Rosa · 1,055 students · 18.2:1 ratio