Petaluma

Welcome to Petaluma

Historic city rich in agriculture and country charm.

​​​​​​​Petaluma is the southernmost city in Sonoma County Wine Country. Located just 50 miles north of San Francisco, Petaluma is nestled along the Petaluma River in an area of bucolic rolling farmland. The city was settled in the mid-1800s and incorporated in 1858. The downtown area features well-preserved historic buildings and lots of options for shopping and dining. Farm-to-table restaurants are particularly plentiful in a city that is rich in agriculture and country charm. Petaluma is also home to highly rated and diverse schools.
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Petaluma’s real estate mix includes many charming heritage homes dating back to the 1930s. Other housing options include everything from stylish contemporary apartments on the waterfront at Theater Square to acreage ranches within minutes of downtown.

What to Love

• Rich in agriculture and country charm
• Historic theater district
• Excellent public schools
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Local Lifestyle

Petaluma is ranked by Niche.com as the #1 Place to Live in Sonoma County. Residents enjoy access to a wide array of amenities including outstanding restaurants, historic theaters, golf courses, and numerous nearby Sonoma County Wine Country vineyards. For young families, Petaluma boasts excellent public schools. Petaluma Accelerated Charter Middle School is one of the best-rated schools in the entirety of California.
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Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

Petaluma’s historic downtown area features many fine contemporary businesses housed within buildings that date back to the city’s founding in the 19th Century. Della Fattoria is a prime example of Petaluma’s blend of old and new. Located within a 150-year-old building decorated with vintage chandeliers, Della Fattoria sells freshly baked artisanal bread and scrumptious pastries. This trendy spot also offers lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch menus of elegant meals prepared with ingredients sourced from local farmers, ranchers, and dairies alongside locally sourced wine and coffee.

​​​​​​​Central Market similarly utilizes local food and wine for its sophisticated menu of Californian and Mediterranean bistro fare. The old-world Italian trattoria Cucina Paradiso pairs authentic cuisine with an expansive selection of Italian and Sonoma County wines. Risibisi is another hotspot for Italian wining and dining which has won multiple Michelin Bib Gourmand and Zagat awards for its outstanding selection of food, wine, and cocktails. Wild Goat Bistro draws on diverse global influences for its seasonal menu of farm-to-fork cuisine served within the rustic-chic setting of the historic Great Petaluma Mill. Wild Goat Bistro is another Petaluma standout for wine with a list that focuses on small-batch producers from Sonoma County and overseas. The boutique Hotel Petaluma sits in a beautiful downtown building that has served as a hotel since the 1920s.
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Things to Do

Petaluma is brimming with community events and cultural activities including the arts, theater, and sports. Petaluma’s Butter and Eggs Day Parade is a unique local celebration first held in honor of National Egg Day in the early 1900s. The parade features around 130 parade units and attracts crowds of around 30,000 people. There are lots of fun activities associated with the parade including a Cutest Little Chick Contest for toddlers and a Cow Chip Throwing Contest participated in by local celebrities. Little League baseball is big in Petaluma with many local kids participating in well-organized teams. 

Theater Square is the epicenter of Petaluma’s theater district. Mystic Theater originally opened as a vaudeville theater in 1911 but now serves primarily as a live music venue. The Phoenix Theatre first opened as an opera house in 1905 but has served as a live music performance space since the 1980s. Bands such as Metallica, Green Day, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers played shows here on their rise to fame. 

The area is also quite rich in history and known for its spectacular wineries. There are many other heritage sites and heritage homes around Petaluma and this architectural mix make the city a fascinating place to explore on foot. Petaluma is also a big part of Sonoma County Wine Country. Some of the most popular local winemakers include Adobe Road Winery, Black Knight Vineyards, Sonoma Portworks, and Keller Estate Wineries. Many of these wineries have been in business for well over a century. Petaluma’s rich winemaking heritage was recognized in 2017 with the formal designation of the Petaluma Gap American Viticultural Area. 

​​​​​​​Beer lovers are also well-catered to thanks to the Lagunitas TapRoom & Beer Sanctuary’s selection of some of Lagunitas’ most popular beers and many special one-off brews. On top of this, Petaluma offers the opportunity to explore gorgeous nature parks including the serene 165-acre wetland habitat of Shollenberger Park and the 216-acre expanse of oak woodlands, grasslands, and ridges at Helen Putnam Regional Park. For golfers, Petaluma is home to the private Petaluma Golf and Country Club and public Rooster Run Golf Course. In addition, Petaluma is located just 30 minutes from the coast and the scenic seaside village of Bodega Bay.
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Schools

School districts serving Petaluma include the Petaluma Joint Union High School District and numerous charter school districts.

• Meadow Elementary School, Public, K-6.
• McKinley Elementary School, Public, K-6.
• Corona Creek Elementary School, K-6 
• Liberty Elementary School, K-6 
• Wilson Elementary School, K-6 
• Live Oak Charter School, Public, Charter, K-8.
• Cinnabar Charter Middle School 
• Petaluma Accelerated Charter School, Public, Magnet, Charter, 7-8, Ranked among the top ten middle schools in California.
• Casa Grande High School, Public, 9-12.
• Petaluma High School, Public, 9-12.
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Property Videos

117 Prince Albert St, Petaluma, CA Branded

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