WELCOME TO SEBASTOPOL

Sebastopol is a town in Sonoma County, California, United States, approximately 52 mi (80 km) north of San Francisco. The population was 7,774 at the 2000 census, but its businesses also serve surrounding rural portions of Sonoma County, totaling about 50,000 people. It is about a 20-minute drive from the Pacific Ocean, between Santa Rosa and Bodega Bay, and is known for its liberal politics and small-town charm. It was once primarily a plum and apple growing region, however wine grapes are now predominant, and nearly all lands once used for orchards are now vineyards. World-famous horticulturist Luther Burbank had gardens in this fertile region. The city hosts an annual Apple Blossom Festival and Gravenstein Apple Fair.

Sebastopol is the home of publisher O'Reilly Media, which publishes books on open-source software and other topics, and international camera bag manufacturer Lowepro Inc. Primus lead singer/bassist Les Claypool, singer/songwriter Tom Waits, singer/songwriter Nick Gravenites, and actor Peter Krause currently reside in the area. Sebastopol is home to Analy High School, Laguna High School, Brook Haven Middle School, Gravenstein Elementary School, Hillcrest Middle School, Twin Hills Middle School, Pine Crest Elementary, Apple Blossom Elementary, along with many other private and charter schools.

 

Places of Interest

 

Sebastopol, while small, has several points of interest.

• Luther Burbank Gold Ridge Experiment Farm
• The historic Hogan Building, Petaluma Avenue. This was the Power House for the Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railroad which was an electric railway. The first cars were run over the line in 1904, and the later named Hogan Building, built of stone from a local quarry, is one of the few in the area that made it through the 1906 earthquake.
• West County Museum operated by the Western Sonoma County Historical Society in the former Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railroad passenger Depot on Main Street.
• George A. Strout House, located on Florence Ave., home of sculptor Patrick Amiot and many of his eclectic sculptures
• Ives Park, summer home of the Sonoma County Repertory Theater (aka The Rep)
• Ragle Ranch Regional Park
• Joe Rodota Trail
• West County Trail
• Laguna de Santa Rosa