Ross, California
Ross is a town of 2,606 people in Marin County, California, founded in 1857.
Why visit Ross
Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 19 parks and trails, 43 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 6 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Bald Hill, Grove Hill, Alexander-Acacia Bridge and Bradford House.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; December lows average 42°F.
Weather in Ross
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Ross
Ross is a small incorporated town in Marin County, California, United States, just north of San Francisco. Ross is located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west-southwest of San Rafael, at an elevation of 36 feet (11 m). The population was 2,338 at the 2020 census. The town is bordered by San Rafael to the east, Larkspur to the southeast, Kentfield to the south, San Anselmo to the north, and the Mount Tamalpais protected watershed to the west.
From the Wikipedia article Ross, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do6
Museums and landmarks8
Alexander-Acacia Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Road bridge in Larkspur, United States of America
Bradford House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
House in San Rafael, California
Larkspur Downtown Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Historic district in California, United States
Marin County Civic Center
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Building in California, designed by F.L.Wright
Robert Dollar House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Historic house in San Rafael, California, United States
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
San Rafael Improvement Club
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Historic building in San Rafael, California, United States
Museum of International Propaganda
Museum · 2.0 mi
Non-profit institution located in San Rafael, California
Marin Art & Garden Center, Ross
Monument and historic site · 0.4 mi
Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
Parks, trails and playgrounds19
Gerstle Park
Park · 1.4 mi
Gerstle Park features picnic tables, barbeques, multiple group picnic areas (capacity up to 100), a basketball court, a tennis court,...
Upper Toyon Ridge Nature Preserve (WAN)
Hiking and trails · 0.8 mi
Upper Toyon Nature Preserve
sunrise-sunset
7 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes43
The Half Day Cafe
Restaurant · Regional · 1.0 mi
848 College Avenue, Kentfield
Mo-Fr 07:00-14:30; Sa-Su 08:00-14:30
Pond Farm Brewing Company
Bar and pub · 1.4 mi
1848 Fourth Street, San Rafael
Mo off; Tu-Th 15:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 12:00-20:00
Ambrosia
Restaurant · Italian · 1.0 mi
This restaurant has went out of business.
850 College Avenue
Sa-Th 17:00-21:00; Fr 17:00-22:00
Baan Thai Cuisine
Restaurant · Thai · 0.9 mi
726 San Anselmo Avenue
Tu-Sa 23:30-10:00; Su 00:30-11:00
Flour Craft Bakery
Bakery · 0.9 mi
702 San Anselmo Avenue
We-Sa 20:00-05:00; Su-Mo 20:00-03:00
31 more on the map.
History
After the Mexican Revolution of 1821, the "land grant" system of parceling out land gave rise to what is now known as Marin County. Ross was originally part of an 8,877-acre (3,592 ha) Mexican land grant to Juan B.R. Cooper in 1840 known as Ranch Punta de Quentin Canada de San Anselmo.
In 1857, James Ross (1812–1862) bought Rancho Punta de Quentin for $50,000. Ross, a Scot who had arrived in San Francisco from Australia in 1848 and made his fortune in the wholesale liquor business, set up a trading post called "Ross Landing". He built his home on Redwood Drive and moved there with his wife and three children. When James Ross died in 1862, his wife, Annie Ross, was forced to sell a portion of her husband's larger land holdings to pay each of their daughters $10,000. The remaining 297 acres (120 ha) comprises the present-day Town of Ross.
The first post office opened in 1887, and Ross incorporated in 1908.
From the History section of Ross, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship7
Shopping17
Gas and EV charging7
Schools, colleges and libraries57
Anthony G. Bacich Elementary
School · 1.5 mi
699 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Kentfield
Healthcare3
Map of Ross
168 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 42°F | 8.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 61°F | 43°F | 8.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 65°F | 44°F | 6.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 69°F | 46°F | 2.6 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 74°F | 50°F | 1.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 52°F | 0.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 53°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 83°F | 54°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 82°F | 53°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 76°F | 50°F | 2.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 64°F | 45°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 56°F | 42°F | 9.8 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Kentfield (1 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
Marin County has had 12 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2023-04-03: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-03-22: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-05-17: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
San Rafael Airport (SRF) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- San Anselmo 1 mi north, about 2 min by car
- Larkspur 2 mi southeast, about 4 min by car
- San Rafael 3 mi east, about 5 min by car
- Corte Madera 4 mi southeast, about 6 min by car
- Mill Valley 4 mi south, about 6 min by car
- Alto 5 mi southeast, about 7 min by car
- Tamalpais-Homestead Valley 6 mi south, about 10 min by car
- Marin City 7 mi south, about 11 min by car
- Novato 8 mi north, about 14 min by car
- Belvedere 8 mi southeast, about 13 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
- Post Office Ross California, LPS.1, CC0
- Ross public safety building, exterior, California (August 2026), BriefEdits, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Saint Anselm Catholic Church, exterior, Ross, CA (August 2026), BriefEdits, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ross Commons, Ross, CA, August 2025, E bailey, CC0
- Larkspur City Hall 400 Magnolia Ave Larkspur CA 3-21-2010 1-56-19 PM, Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bradford House 333 G St San Rafael CA 3-21-2010 3-15-00 PM, Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Robert Dollar House 115 J St San Rafael CA 3-21-2010 3-36-55 PM, Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Marin Civic Center, Fizbin at en.wikipedia, Public domain
- Alexander Avenue Bridge - View from Below, Marthature, CC BY-SA 4.0
- San Rafael Improvement Club 1801 5th Ave San Rafael CA 3-21-2010 3-29-02 PM, Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mission San Rafael Arcángel, May 2019-5990, Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Coastal Riffle Sculpin (Cottus ohlone pomo) in my hand, Fuzzy Little Duckling, CC BY 4.0
- Coastal Riffle Sculpin (Cottus ohlone pomo) hand pic, Fuzzy Little Duckling, CC BY 4.0
- Marin art and garden center tree, Trailsphotography, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Marin art and garden lawn and gazebo, Trailsphotography, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Marin art and garden center sculpture with dragonfly, Trailsphotography, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Marin art and garden center trees, Trailsphotography, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hypsopygia phoezalis, loarie, CC0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - Montgomery Memorial Chapel - panoramio (2), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - Montgomery Memorial Chapel - panoramio (4), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - Montgomery Memorial Chapel - panoramio (6), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - Montgomery Memorial Chapel - panoramio (5), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - Montgomery Memorial Chapel - panoramio (3), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - Montgomery Memorial Chapel - panoramio (1), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - Montgomery Memorial Chapel - panoramio, MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - panoramio, MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - Montgomery Memorial Chapel - panoramio (7), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - San Francisco Theological Seminary - panoramio (10), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Anselmo, CA USA - San Francisco Theological Seminary - panoramio, MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - panoramio (3), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - San Francisco Theological Seminary - panoramio (3), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - San Francisco Theological Seminary - panoramio (11), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - San Francisco Theological Seminary - panoramio (1), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - San Francisco Theological Seminary - panoramio (4), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - San Francisco Theological Seminary - panoramio, MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - San Francisco Theological Seminary - panoramio (2), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - San Francisco Theological Seminary - panoramio (9), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - San Francisco Theological Seminary - panoramio (13), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - San Francisco Theological Seminary - panoramio (12), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- San Aselmo, CA USA - panoramio (1), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
_in_my_hand.jpg){kind=link}
_hand_pic.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.