The Press Democrat, newspaper based in Sonoma County, California
The Press Democrat is a daily newspaper in Santa Rosa that started in 1857 as the Sonoma Democrat with just four pages published once a week. Over the years it merged with other papers, changed its name, and grew to become the largest newspaper serving the region between San Francisco and Oregon.
The newspaper was founded in 1857 shortly after Santa Rosa became Sonoma County's main town, with publisher Alpheus Russell launching the first issue with support from local ranchers. It was later taken over by Thomas Thompson, a Southern sympathizer during the Civil War who later served as a U.S. ambassador to Brazil.
The Press Democrat took its name from the democratic political beliefs of its early settlers who came from the American South. This choice of name reflected the values of the community and showed how deeply local politics shaped the publication from the start.
The newspaper is headquartered in a recognizable building on B Street in Santa Rosa and has long served as a center for reporting and community engagement. Today readers can access the publication in multiple formats including the printed edition, the website with news updates, and digital archives stretching back to the 1800s.
The newspaper won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for its coverage of the Santa Rosa wildfires, highlighting the importance of local journalism during times of crisis. This award shows how the publication has documented major events that shaped the community.
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