Petaluma, Charter city in Sonoma County, California.
Petaluma is a city in the California North Bay region that stretches along the Petaluma River with old commercial districts and residential areas on both banks. The downtown preserves its original 19th-century layout with multi-story brick buildings and narrow streets leading down to the river.
The city was founded in 1858 and quickly grew into a commercial center for dairy and poultry connected to San Francisco Bay through the river. In the early 20th century it became a major production site for eggs and poultry, shaping the local economy for decades.
The name comes from a Coast Miwok word referring to the hilly landscape. Many buildings in the center date from the Victorian era and shape the cityscape along the waterfront, where cafés and shops now operate.
The city center is easy to explore on foot, with parking available at the edge of downtown and a free shuttle running during business hours. Connections to San Francisco and wine country are available by public transport, with journeys taking around one hour.
The river was once navigable up to the city center, facilitating trade with the bay. An old 19th-century firehouse now hosts a small museum with objects from the dairy and poultry industry era.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
