Healdsburg

History

Early inhabitants of the local area included the Pomo people, who constructed villages in open areas along the Russian River. Anglo-American and Russian settlement may have commenced in the mid-19th century, with a settlement nearby, established downstream along the Russian River near Graton, in 1836, and later the Rancho Sotoyome land grant, in 1844. In 1857, Harmon Heald, an Ohio businessman who had been squatting on Rancho Sotoyome since 1850, purchased part of the rancho—giving the city its official founding date. Farming, especially orchards and truck farms, was common within the present city limits from at least the 1890s to 1940s. The first commercial development of the seasoning lemon pepper was in Healdsburg in 1967.

Geography

The city has a total area of , all land. Foss Creek traverses the city from north to south, flowing into Dry Creek near the U.S. 101 Central Healdsburg interchange. Healdsburg has cool, wet winters and warm to hot, dry summers. In January, the average high temperature is and the average low is . In July, the average high temperature is and the average low is . There are an average of 54.6 days with highs of or higher and an average of 20.1 days with lows of or lower. The record high temperature was on September 6, 2022, and the record low temperature was on December 22, 1990. Annual precipitation averages . There are an average of 73 days annually with measurable precipitation. The wettest year was 1983 with and the driest year was 1976 with . The most precipitation in one month was in January 1995. The most precipitation in 24 hours was on December 3, 1980. Snow is relatively rare, with none in most years. The highest yearly snowfall totaled in 1976. An intrinsic element of the city's natural environment is the riparian zone associated with the Russian River that flows through Healdsburg. The city owns two open space reserves stewarded by LandPaths. The Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve has of wetlands, oak woodlands, chaparral, and grasslands, while the Fitch Mountain Open Space Preserve has . City residents support recycling by use of the Healdsburg Transfer Station. The city has shown an interest in creating a quiet environment by creating a Noise Element of the General Plan, which defines baseline sound level contours and sets forth standards of quiet for each land use category.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• California/Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

  Aphelocoma californica (Vigors, 1839) · Aves
  4,894
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,844
• Acorn Woodpecker

  Melanerpes formicivorus (Swainson, 1827) · Aves
  4,486
• Anna's Hummingbird

  Calypte anna (R.Lesson, 1829) · Aves
  4,475
• Dark-eyed Junco

  Junco hyemalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,467
• Oak Titmouse

  Baeolophus inornatus (Gambel, 1845) · Aves
  4,145
• California Towhee

  Melozone crissalis (Vigors, 1839) · Aves
  4,082
• House Finch

  Haemorhous mexicanus (P.L.Statius Müller, 1776) · Aves
  3,782

Largest nearby schools

• Windsor High
  High · Windsor · 1,603 students · 19.8:1 ratio
• Cali Calmecac Language Academy
  Elementary · Windsor · 1,168 students · 22.5:1 ratio
• Windsor Middle
  Middle · Windsor · 725 students · 19.6:1 ratio
• Mattie Washburn Elementary
  Elementary · Santa Rosa · 514 students · 19:1 ratio
• Healdsburg High
  High · Healdsburg · 511 students · 17.6:1 ratio
• Brooks Elementary
  Elementary · Windsor · 453 students · 22.6:1 ratio
• San Miguel Elementary
  Elementary · Santa Rosa · 407 students · 20.4:1 ratio
• Healdsburg Elementary
  Elementary · Healdsburg · 397 students · 14.2:1 ratio