Sebastopol, California | |
|---|---|
 Main Street in Downtown Sebastopol | |
 Location inSonoma County andthe State of California | |
  Sebastopol, California Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:38°23′57″N122°49′37″W / 38.39917°N 122.82694°W /38.39917; -122.82694 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Sonoma |
| Incorporated | June 13, 1902[1] |
| Named after | Siege of Sevastopol |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| • Mayor | Stephen Zollman |
| • City manager | Mary Gourley (interim)[2] |
| • County supervisor | Lynda Hopkins[3] |
| • Assemblymember | Chris Rogers (D)[4] |
| • State Senator | Mike McGuire (D)[4] |
| • U. S. Rep. | Jared Huffman (D)[5] |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.88 sq mi (4.87 km2) |
| • Land | 1.88 sq mi (4.87 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 82 ft (25 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 7,521 |
• Estimate (2024)[8] | 7,388 |
| • Density | 4,000/sq mi (1,540/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes | 95472-95473 |
| Area code | 707, 369 |
| FIPS code | 06-70770 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 277599,2411857 |
| Website | www |
Sebastopol (/sɪˈbæstəpoʊl,-puːl/sib-AST-ə-pohl, -pool) is a city inSonoma County, California, with a recorded population of 7,521, per the2020 U.S. census.[8]
Sebastopol was once primarily a plum- and apple-growing region.[9] Wine grapes are the predominant agriculture crop, and nearly all lands once used for orchards are now vineyards[citation needed]. The creation of The Barlow, a $32 million mall on a floodplain in Sebastopol, has converted old agricultural warehouses into a marketplace for dining, tasting rooms, and art, and has made Sebastopol aWine Country destination.[10][11]
HorticulturistLuther Burbank had gardens in this region.[9][12] The city hosts an annual Apple Blossom Festival in April, Gravenstein Apple Fair in August, and is home to the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival.[13][14][15]
The settlement was originally named Pine Grove.[7] The name change to Sebastopol has historically been attributed to a bar fight in the late 1850s, which was allegedly compared by a bystander to the long Alliedsiege of the seaport of Sevastopol (1854–1855) during theCrimean War of 1853–1856.[16][12][17] The original name survives in the name of the Pine Grove General Store downtown.
The area's first known inhabitants were the nativeCoast Miwok andPomo peoples. The town currently sits atop multiple village sites.[18] The town of Sebastopol formed in the 1850s with aU.S. Post Office and as a small trade center for the farmers of the surrounding agricultural region. As California's population swelled after thewestward migration and theCalifornia Gold Rush of 1848–1855, more and more settlers drifted into the fertile California valleys north of San Francisco to try their hand at farming. Sebastopol's early settlers included immigrants from a variety of national origins, including a substantial Chinese population that formed aChinatown in the present-day downtown core beginning in the 1880s.[19]
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Sebastopol became known as the "Gravenstein Apple Capital of the World."[20] The apple industry brought a steady rural prosperity to the town. In 1890 theSan Francisco and North Pacific Railroad connected Sebastopol to the national rail network.[21] The town wasincorporated in 1902, with schools, churches, hotels, canneries, mills, wineries, and an opera house to its credit. The1906 earthquake reduced most of these early buildings to rubble (Sebastopol is only 7 miles or 11 km from the city of Santa Rosa, the worst-hit town in the 1906 earthquake)[citation needed] , but as elsewhere in the county, the town was rebuilt. Contemporary research from theU.S. Geological Survey found that Sebastopol experienced the highest intensity shaking during the earthquake.[22]
The Enmanji Japanese Buddhist Temple was dedicated in 1934. Originally built by theManchurian Railroad Company and exhibited in theChicago World's Fair of 1933, theKamakura-style temple was dismantled and shipped to Sebastopol, where it was reconstructed without the use of nails.[23][24]
In the second half of the 20th century, the apple industry struggled to compete with other apple-producing regions and gradually declined in economic significance. With greater personal mobility and the rise of larger shopping centers in other Sonoma County communities, many residents now often commute to work and shop in the neighboring towns, and a majority of local vehicle trips end inSanta Rosa.[25]
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Sebastopol once had workingrailroad trains on Main Street, and the tracks were removed in the late 1980s.[26] Passenger service had ceased in the 1930s, and regular freight service ended in the late 1970s.[26] This was documented byAnaly High School students in a 1979 videoOur Train Down Main: a History of thePetaluma and Santa Rosa Railroad. The canneries and apple-processing plant are gone from downtown, and vineyards and housing developments have replaced many apple orchards, reducing the demand for freight service. The region's last remaining apple processing plant, Manzana Products, announced in 2024 that they would relocate operations to theYakima Valley ofWashington by early 2026.[27]
Around the time of the removal of rail tracks, the Gravenstein Highway (Route 116) was redesigned with a pair of one-way streets. Main Street and Petaluma Avenue were designated one-way streets in the 1980s in an attempt to deal with the town's perennial traffic problem.[28]
In 1985, the city passed an ordinance declaring Sebastopol anuclear-free zone.[29] The town does not use pesticides in city landscaping.[30] Sebastopol became the second city in California (afterLancaster) to requiresolar panels on all new homes in 2013,[31] a requirement implemented statewide by 2020.[32] The neighboring city ofPetaluma passed the first ban in the world on new gas stations in 2021; Sebastopol also imposed a ban along with the North Bay cities ofAmerican Canyon,Calistoga, andRohnert Park.[33][34]
Sebastopol adopted anurban growth boundary in its 1994general plan to restrict urban development outside the boundary. The boundary was formally adopted by a ballot initiative in 1996, and was renewed and extended with additional ballot initiatives as recently as 2016.[35]
After decades of minimal development and stagnating population, the city has responded locally to the largerCalifornia housing shortage with affordable housing for low-income residents and people experiencinghomelessness. In 2007, the city purchased land on the banks of theLaguna de Santa Rosa to operate Park Village, a city-owned mobile home park for both long-term residents and people exiting homelessness.[36] In partnership with theCounty of Sonoma and usingProject Homekey funds, the former Sebastopol Inn was converted tosupportive housing during theCOVID-19 pandemic and renamed Elderberry Commons.[37] An 84-unitaffordable housing development, including 48 units for farmworkers funded throughUSDA Rural Development, was approved under aSenate Bill 35 streamlined approval process in 2022.[38][39]
In April 2021, $1.2 million was stolen from the city’s reserves account in email-basedcyber fraud.[40] The fraud came as the city was already facing a looming budget deficit, estimated at $2.9 million by 2024.[41] Initial actions to curb the fiscal crisis included a 37% water and sewer rate increase in 2024. The rate hike generated controversy, with the mayor indicating that she was “utterly shocked” that the city would charge interest on an internal loan transferring money between the general fund and wastewater fund.[42]
Local residents passed a ½ cent sales tax in the2024 general election to prevent further deficit spending. The tax would push Sebastopol’s sales tax over the state cap of 10.25% to 10.5% if approved by theCalifornia Attorney General, and would become the highest local sales tax in the state outside ofAlameda County.[43]
Sebastopol is home to national food and beverage producers includingGuayakí, Redwood Hill Creamery, Traditional Medicinals, and Bachan’s.[44][45]
Cideries have grown in Sebastopol in celebration of the Gravenstein apple legacy.[46][47]Ace Cider was founded in 1993,[44][48] and Golden State Cider, which started with apples from a Sebastopol orchard, established a tasting room in The Barlow District in 2019.[47][49]
Sebastopol is in theRussian River Valley AVA, and a variety of wineries and tasting rooms are located in the area. Several local producers and establishments specialize innatural wine,[50][51][52][53] including The Punchdown, anOakland-originated natural wine bar nominated for aJames Beard Award in 2022.[54]
As of 2024, Sebastopol has two restaurants withBib Gourmand recognition in the annualMichelin Guide: Khom Loi and Ramen Gaijin.[55]
The downtown intersection ofState Route 12 andState Route 116 (Gravenstein Highway) is approximately 9 mi (14 km) west ofU.S. Route 101.[56]
Sebastopol is situated on the edge of theLaguna de Santa Rosa, which is fed bySanta Rosa Creek and other tributaries, including three minor tributaries within the city limits: Zimpher Creek, Calder Creek and Witter Creek.[57][58] The Laguna is awetland area that is home to many species of wildlife and vegetation and divides the town from neighboring Santa Rosa. The Laguna frequently floods during the winter, cutting off State Route 12, and often flooding the low-lying businesses and homes on the eastern side of Sebastopol.[11] ThePitkin Marsh lily andWhite sedge are tworare species of plants that are found in the vicinity of Sebastopol.[59][60]
The city has a total area of 1.9 sq mi (4.9 km2), all land.[61]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 197 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,233 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,493 | 21.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,762 | 18.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,856 | 5.3% | |
| 1950 | 2,601 | 40.1% | |
| 1960 | 2,694 | 3.6% | |
| 1970 | 3,993 | 48.2% | |
| 1980 | 5,595 | 40.1% | |
| 1990 | 7,004 | 25.2% | |
| 2000 | 7,774 | 11.0% | |
| 2010 | 7,379 | −5.1% | |
| 2020 | 7,521 | 1.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 7,388 | [8] | −1.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[62][failed verification] 2020[8] | |||
| Racial and ethnic composition | 2000[63] | 2010[64] | 2020[65] |
|---|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 85.35% | 81.87% | 74.66% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 9.26% | 11.99% | 14.36% |
| Two or more races (non-Hispanic) | 2.32% | 2.59% | 6.18% |
| Asian (non-Hispanic) | 1.49% | 1.57% | 2.43% |
| Other (non-Hispanic) | 0.23% | 0.19% | 0.96% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 0.64% | 0.92% | 0.82% |
| Native American (non-Hispanic) | 0.62% | 0.62% | 0.40% |
| Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic) | 0.09% | 0.24% | 0.19% |
The2020 United States census reported that Sebastopol had a population of 7,521. The population density was 3,996.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,543.0/km2). The racial makeup of Sebastopol was 78.0%White, 0.9%African American, 1.1%Native American, 2.5%Asian, 0.2%Pacific Islander, 5.7% fromother races, and 11.7% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.4% of the population.[66]
The census reported that 98.5% of the population lived in households, 0.5% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1.1% were institutionalized.[66]
There were 3,411 households, out of which 25.2% included children under the age of 18, 36.7% were married-couple households, 7.5% werecohabiting couple households, 38.4% had a female householder with no partner present, and 17.4% had a male householder with no partner present. 35.0% of households were one person, and 22.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.17.[66] There were 1,910families (56.0% of all households).[67]
The age distribution was 17.5% under the age of 18, 5.7% aged 18 to 24, 20.7% aged 25 to 44, 27.0% aged 45 to 64, and 29.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.2 males.[66]
There were 3,562 housing units at an average density of 1,892.7 units per square mile (730.8 units/km2), of which 3,411 (95.8%) were occupied. Of these, 52.7% were owner-occupied, and 47.3% were occupied by renters.[66]
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $99,600, and theper capita income was $52,441. About 3.6% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line.[68]
The2010 United States census[69] reported that Sebastopol had a population of 7,379. The population density was 3,982.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,537.6/km2). The racial makeup of Sebastopol was 6,509 (88.2%)White, 72 (1.0%)African American, 60 (0.8%)Native American, 120 (1.6%)Asian, 19 (0.3%)Pacific Islander, 298 (4.0%) fromother races, and 301 (4.1%) from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 885 persons (12.0%).
The Census reported that 98.3% of the population lived in households and 1.7% were institutionalized.
There were 3,276 households, out of which 902 (27.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,220 (37.2%) wereopposite-sex married couples living together, 478 (14.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 156 (4.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 206 (6.3%)unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 52 (1.6%)same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,132 households (34.6%) were made up of individuals, and 498 (15.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21. There were 1,854families (56.6% of all households); the average family size was 2.82.
The age distribution was1,515 people (20.5%) under the age of 18, 471 people (6.4%) aged 18 to 24, 1,587 people (21.5%) aged 25 to 44, 2,525 people (34.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,281 people (17.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.7 males.
There were 3,465 housing units, with an average density of 1,870.0 per square mile (722.0/km2), of which 52.9% were owner-occupied and 47.1% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.2%. 53.7% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 44.5% lived in rental housing units.
The median income for a household in the city was $60,322 (+29.9% from 2000), and the median income for a family was $74,020 (+32.7% from 2000). The medianper capita income for the city was $29,470 (+28.8% from 2000). For comparison, statewide California median per capita income in the 2010 Census was $27,885 (+22.8% from 2000).
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Places of interest in Sebastopol include:
The city council consists of five members, each serving four-year terms. The city's laws are enforced by theSebastopol Police Department.City council races are not partisan, so each member does not officially represent any party; however, since 2000 there has been a decent amount of attention given to the individual party membership of city council members in Sebastopol. This happened because, with the election of Craig Litwin and Sam Spooner to the city council in that year's election, the town had aGreen Party majority—or would have, if city council races had been partisan.[70] This was only the second time this had ever happened in California, the first being the town of Arcata in 1996.[71]
The mayor is Stephen Zollman.[72][73]
A former mayor, Robert Jacob, who was selected by the city council in December 2013, was the owner of twomedical marijuana dispensaries in Sonoma County. He was reported to be the first American mayor to be involved in the industry.[74]
In theCalifornia State Legislature, Sebastopol is inthe 2nd Assembly district, represented byDemocrat Chris Rogers, andCalifornia's 2nd State Senate district, represented by Mike McGuire.
Federally, Sebastopol is inCalifornia's 2nd congressional district, represented byDemocrat Jared Huffman.[75]
According to theCalifornia Secretary of State, as of February 10, 2019, Sebastopol has 5,285 registered voters. Of those, 3,346 (63.3%) are registeredDemocrats, 518 (9.8%) are registeredRepublicans, and 1,137 (21.5%) havedeclined to state a political party.[76]
Sebastopol Union Elementary School District and West Sonoma County Union High School District are the local school districts.[77] Both districts cover the entirety of city limits, while the Twin Hills Union School District,Gravenstein Union School District, and Oak Grove Union School District serve the rural outskirts of Sebastopol and feed into the West Sonoma County Union High School District.[78]
Analy High School is the primary high school serving grades 9-12 in the West Sonoma County Union High School District. Following the merger of Analy andEl Molino High School in 2021, Analy serves the broader west Sonoma County community.[79] The high school district also operates Laguna High School, acontinuation school located on the former El Molino campus in nearbyForestville.
Sebastopol Union operates two schools: Park Side (TK-4) and Brook Haven (5–8).[80]
The Sebastopol Union School District also acts as the sponsor district for the Sebastopol Charter School, a K-8 publicWaldorfcharter school.[81] The Twin Hills Union School District sponsors the K-8 SunRidge Charter School within the city.[82]
Sebastopol Charter had the highest percentage (58%) of kindergarten students with medical exemptions to vaccines in California as of the summer of 2018.[83]
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The Sebastopol Police Department employs 31 sworn and non sworn personnel, and 25 volunteers. The department was founded in the early 1900s.
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