Occidental, California
Occidental is a community of 1,225 people in Sonoma County, California.
Why visit Occidental
Townapedia lists 4 museums and landmarks, 7 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Watson School.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 78°F; December lows average 41°F.
Weather in Occidental
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Occidental
Occidental is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sonoma County, California, United States. The population was 1,132 at the 2020 census, up from 1,115 at the 2010 census.
From the Wikipedia article Occidental, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks4
Watson School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Historic park in California
Restaurants and cafes7
Howard Station Cafe
Restaurant · American, Bagel, Breakfast, Coffee Shop · 0.8 mi
Cash only. No reservations. Closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Breakfast and cafe fare, using organic ingredients as often...
3611 Bohemian Highway, Occidental
Mo-Su 07:30-15:00
The Altamont General Store
Restaurant · Breakfast, Coffee Shop · 0.8 mi
3703 Main Street
Th-Sa 09:00-16:00; Su-Mo 00:00-24:00
Where to stay3
History
Founded in 1876, Occidental was a stop on the North Pacific Coast Railroad connecting Cazadero to the Sausalito ferry. In return for donating right-of-way to the railroad, a local landowner named "Dutch Bill" Howards received a lifetime railway pass, and the station was named after him.
The railway caused a rapid expansion of the timber industry, and by 1877 there were six sawmills in the Occidental area. Trains also brought vacationers from San Francisco.
From the History section of Occidental, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship2
St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 0.9 mi
3730 Bohemian Highway, Occidental
Shopping3
Schools, colleges and libraries17
Sebastopol Independent Charter
School · 5.2 mi
1111 Gravenstein Hwy. N, Sebastopol
Map of Occidental
37 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 42°F | 10.8 in |
| Feb | 58°F | 43°F | 9.9 in |
| Mar | 61°F | 44°F | 7.0 in |
| Apr | 66°F | 45°F | 3.8 in |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 2.0 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 51°F | 0.6 in |
| Jul | 78°F | 52°F | 0.1 in |
| Aug | 78°F | 53°F | 0.1 in |
| Sep | 77°F | 53°F | 0.2 in |
| Oct | 73°F | 52°F | 2.6 in |
| Nov | 62°F | 46°F | 5.7 in |
| Dec | 55°F | 41°F | 11.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Occidental (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Sonoma County has had 23 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2023-04-03: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-03-10: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-10-16: Wildfires (Fire)
- 2020-09-27: Glass Fire (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Sonoma County Airport (STS) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 10 miles away.
- Graton 5 mi northeast, about 7 min by car
- Forestville 6 mi northeast, about 10 min by car
- Bodega Bay 7 mi southwest, about 11 min by car
- Windsor 12 mi northeast, about 19 min by car
- Santa Rosa 13 mi east, about 21 min by car
- Rohnert Park 13 mi east, about 21 min by car
- Healdsburg 16 mi north, about 25 min by car
- Petaluma 20 mi southeast, about 32 min by car
- Glen Ellen 21 mi east, about 35 min by car
- Kenwood 21 mi east, about 35 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Union Hotel in Occidental, California-6062, Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Howard’s Cafe in Occidental, California-6006, Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Altamont General Store in Occidental, California-6033, Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Buildings alongside Bohemian Highway in Occidental, California-6044, Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Negri's Original Occidental - Sarah Stierch 04, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- Negri's Original Occidental - Sarah Stierch 05, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- Post Office in Occidental, California-02187, Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fire station in Occidental, California-02191, Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Watson School near Bodega, California, Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Inocybe hystrix 15064703, debk, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Neodasyscypha cerina 30517807, Alan Rockefeller, CC BY 4.0
- Inocybe hystrix 15064704, debk, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Inocybe hystrix 15064705, debk, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leucangium carthusianum (Tul. & C. Tul.) Paol 660087, This image was created by user George Riner (mycogeo) at Mushroom Observer , a source for mycological images. You can contact this user here ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Leucangium carthusianum (660086), This image was created by user George Riner (mycogeo) at Mushroom Observer , a source for mycological images. You can contact this user here ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Leucangium carthusianum (2016), This image was created by user George Riner (mycogeo) at Mushroom Observer , a source for mycological images. You can contact this user here ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Gymnopilus rufescens Hesler 992306, This image was created by user George Riner (mycogeo) at Mushroom Observer , a source for mycological images. You can contact this user here ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Chlorociboria aeruginascens-303622 01, Alan Rockefeller, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Chlorociboria aeruginascens-303626, Alan Rockefeller, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Inocybe griseolilacina 752677, This image was created by user George Riner (mycogeo) at Mushroom Observer , a source for mycological images. You can contact this user here ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Inocybe griseolilacina 752676, This image was created by user George Riner (mycogeo) at Mushroom Observer , a source for mycological images. You can contact this user here ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Inocybe griseolilacina 752679, This image was created by user George Riner (mycogeo) at Mushroom Observer , a source for mycological images. You can contact this user here ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mycena bulliformis 59923231, Alan Rockefeller, CC BY 4.0
- Mycena bulliformis 59923258, Alan Rockefeller, CC BY 4.0
- Mycena bulliformis 59923309, Alan Rockefeller, CC BY 4.0
- Gymnopilus rufescens Hesler 992308, This image was created by user George Riner (mycogeo) at Mushroom Observer , a source for mycological images. You can contact this user here ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ramaria vinosimaculans 685073, This image was created by user George Riner (mycogeo) at Mushroom Observer , a source for mycological images. You can contact this user here ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hebeloma velutipes 346620996, Sigrid Jakob, CC0
- Ramariopsis laeticolor (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) R.H. Petersen 304838, This image was created by user George Riner (mycogeo) at Mushroom Observer , a source for mycological images. You can contact this user here ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Gymnopilus rufescens Hesler 992307, This image was created by user George Riner (mycogeo) at Mushroom Observer , a source for mycological images. You can contact this user here ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Apple orchard - May 2023 - Sarah Stierch 01, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- Apple orchard - May 2023 - Sarah Stierch 02, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- Panizzera Meat - May 2023 - Sarah Stierch 02, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- Panizzera Meat - May 2023 - Sarah Stierch 05, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- Panizzera Meat - May 2023 - Sarah Stierch 04, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- Panizzera Meat - May 2023 - Sarah Stierch 03, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- Panizzera Meat - May 2023 - Sarah Stierch 01, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- Aleuria aurantia 250499373, Roger Raiche, CC BY 4.0
- San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge view from the old WWII army bunker entrance on the north side of the bridge, M. Dr Flex, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Jonive Ridge Library - May 2023 - Sarah Stierch 03, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
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