Petaluma, California
Petaluma is a city of 59,247 people in Sonoma County, California, founded in April 12, 1858.
Why visit Petaluma
Townapedia lists 12 museums and landmarks, 54 parks and trails, 85 places to eat, 7 places to stay and 10 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Old Petaluma Opera House, Boulevard 14 Cinemas, Rancho Petaluma Adobe and Ellis–Martin House.
September is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; December lows average 38°F.
Weather in Petaluma
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Petaluma
Petaluma is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. Its population was 59,776 according to the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Petaluma, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do10
Old Petaluma Opera House
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic building in California
Phoenix Theater
Cinema and theater · 0.9 mi
Movie theater in Petaluma, California, United States
201 Washington St., Petaluma
Haystack Landing
Bridge · 1.6 mi
Historic property in Sonoma County, California
Museums and landmarks12
Rancho Petaluma Adobe
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Historic house in California, USA
3295 Old Adobe Road, Petaluma
Mo-Su 10:00-16:30; PH off
Ellis–Martin House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Craftsman style house in Petaluma, California, United States
Free Public Library of Petaluma
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Research library and history museum
Petaluma Historic Commercial District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic district in California, United States
Philip Sweed House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
United States historic place
United States Post Office
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic post office in Petaluma, California
Petaluma Wildlife & Natural Science Museum
Museum · 1.4 mi
Museum in Petaluma, California
Parks, trails and playgrounds54
Helen Putnam Regional Park
Park · 2.5 mi
Regional park in Petaluma, California
Shollenberger Park
Park · 0.8 mi
Park in California, United States of America, United States of America
42 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes85
Central Market
Restaurant · Californian · 0.8 mi
42 Petaluma Boulevard North, Petaluma
Su-Mo 17:00-21:00; Tu-Th 17:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 17:00-22:00
Lucchesi's Deli
Restaurant · Sandwich · 0.5 mi
301 South McDowell Boulevard, Petaluma
Mo-Sa 08:00-18:00, Su 08:00-17:00
Quickly
Cafe · Bubble Tea · 0.7 mi
8 East Washington Street, Petaluma
Mo-Th 12:00-20:00; Fr-Su 12:00-20:30
Sarmentine Bakery
Bakery · Pastry, Crepe, Boulangerie · 0.9 mi
840 Petaluma Boulevard North, Petaluma
Mo-Fr 07:30-16:00; Sa-Su 07:30-03:00
Sol Food
Diner · American · 0.8 mi
151 #129 Petaluma Boulevard South
Su-Th 10:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-21:00
73 more on the map.
History
The Coast Miwok resided throughout Marin and southern Sonoma County. The village of Péta Lúuma (Coast Miwok for "backside of the hill", or "sloping ridge") was east of the Petaluma River, with a number of other Coast Miwok villages nearby: Wotoki was immediately to the south of Péta Lúuma, on the opposite side of the river; Etem, Likatiut, and Tuchayalin were near today's downtown; and Tulme and Susuli were just north of today's city limits.
The Petaluma area was part of a 66,000-acre (270 km2) 1834 Mexican land grant by Governor Jose Figueroa to Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo called Rancho Petaluma. In 1836, Vallejo ordered construction of his Rancho Petaluma Adobe, a ranch house near Petaluma, which his family often used as a summer home, while he resided in the neighboring town of Sonoma. Vallejo's influence and Mexican control in the region began to decline after Vallejo's arrest during the Bear Flag Revolt in 1846.
From the History section of Petaluma, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay7
Sheraton Sonoma Wine Country Petaluma
Motel and hotel · 1.1 mi
745 Baywood Drive, Petaluma
Park Inn by Radisson
Motel and hotel · 3.0 mi
1368 North McDowell Boulevard, Petaluma
Churches and places of worship16
First Presbyterian Church of Petaluma
Church · Presbyterian · 1.4 mi
929 B Street, Petaluma
St James Catholic Church
Church · Catholic · 1.1 mi
125 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, Petaluma
Shopping23
Gas and EV charging15
Schools, colleges and libraries63
Healthcare4
MarinHealth Internal Medicine - A UCSF Health Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.5 mi
335 South McDowell Boulevard
Map of Petaluma
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 39°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 61°F | 40°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 64°F | 42°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 68°F | 44°F | 1.7 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 72°F | 47°F | 0.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 50°F | 0.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 81°F | 52°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 53°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 82°F | 51°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 76°F | 48°F | 1.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 66°F | 42°F | 2.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 58°F | 38°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Petaluma Ap Hcn (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
Gnoss Field (NOT) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 8 miles away.
- Rohnert Park 8 mi northwest, about 13 min by car
- Sonoma 10 mi east, about 16 min by car
- Novato 12 mi south, about 19 min by car
- Santa Rosa 15 mi north, about 24 min by car
- Napa 18 mi east, about 29 min by car
- San Anselmo 18 mi south, about 29 min by car
- San Rafael 19 mi south, about 31 min by car
- American Canyon 21 mi east, about 33 min by car
- Vallejo 22 mi southeast, about 35 min by car
- Larkspur 22 mi south, 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
- Petaluma California aerial view, Robert Campbell, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Free Public Library of Petaluma, 20 Fourth St., Petaluma, CA 5-31-2010 6-56-02 PM, Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Petaluma Opera House, 147-149 Kentucky St., Petaluma, CA 5-31-2010 6-45-34 PM, Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ellis-Martin House, 1197 E. Washington St., Petaluma, CA 5-31-2010 7-30-44 PM, Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- US Post Office-Petaluma, 120 4th St., Petaluma, CA 5-31-2010 7-01-53 PM, Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Philip Sweed House, 301 Keokuk St., Petaluma, CA 5-31-2010 6-36-13 PM, Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Phoenix Theater, Petaluma, Mx. Granger, CC0
- HelenPutnamRPEdit3022, Stepheng3 ( talk ), Public domain
- Rancho Petaluma Adobe - 2018 - Stierch 01, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- Salute to Baylands Raceway Park - Sarah Stierch 05, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair - Sarah Stierch 01, Missvain, CC0
- 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair - Sarah Stierch 37, Missvain, CC0
- 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair - Sarah Stierch 25, Missvain, CC0
- 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair - Sarah Stierch 39, Missvain, CC0
- 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair - Sarah Stierch 36, Missvain, CC0
- Salute to Baylands Raceway Park - Sarah Stierch 04, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair - Sarah Stierch 24, Missvain, CC0
- Salute to Baylands Raceway Park - Sarah Stierch 07, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair - Sarah Stierch, Missvain, CC0
- 34th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest - Sarah Stierch 05, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- Salute to Baylands Raceway Park - Sarah Stierch 06, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair - Sarah Stierch 35, Missvain, CC0
- 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair - Sarah Stierch 34, Missvain, CC0
- 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair - Sarah Stierch 28, Missvain, CC0
- 34th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest - Sarah Stierch 04, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- 34th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest - Sarah Stierch 14, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- 34th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest - Sarah Stierch 12, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- 34th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest - Sarah Stierch 15, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- 34th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest - Sarah Stierch 13, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- 34th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest - Sarah Stierch 17, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- 34th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest - Sarah Stierch 19, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- 34th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest - Sarah Stierch 18, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- 34th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest - Sarah Stierch 16, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair - Sarah Stierch 32, Missvain, CC0
- 34th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest - Sarah Stierch 02, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- 34th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest - Sarah Stierch 03, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- 34th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest - Sarah Stierch 07, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- 34th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest - Sarah Stierch 08, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- 34th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest - Sarah Stierch 11, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- 34th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest - Sarah Stierch 09, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
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