HEALDSBURG

OUR FAMILY HAS LIVED IN THIS TOWN SINCE ABOUT 1989. WE ENJOY THE SMALL TOWN CLOSENESS AND OUR ABILITY TO WALK TO TOWN AND ALL AROUND THE SQUARE. THE POPULATION IS ABOUT 10,700. IT HAS MANY WINERIES AND IT'S SOIL IS EXCELLENT FOR GROWING PRODUCE. IT HAS A 19TH CENTURY PLAZA WITH PALM AND REDWOOD TREES. THIS PROVIDES A FOCAL POINT FOR TOURISTS AS WELL. THERE IS A POND IN THE CENTER OF THE SQUARE WHICH THE POMO KNEW AS THE FROG POND. THERE WERE ABOUT 10,000 POMO HERE AT THE HEIGHT OF THE POMO REALM. THE FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENT WAS IN GRATON IN 1836.

IN 1857 HARMON HEALD, AN OHIO BUSINESSMAN, WHO HAD LIVED ON RANCHO SOTOYOME SINCE 1850, PURCHASED PART OF THE RANCHO IN 1850. IN 1867 HEALD'S SMALL TOWN BECAME INCORPORATED. IN 1850 PURCHASED PART OF THE RANCHO IN 1850. IN 1867 HEALD'S SMALL TOWN BECAME INCORPORATED. IN 1872 THE SAN FRANCISCO AND NORTH PACIFIC RAILROAD REACHED HEALDSBURG. THERE WAS LOGGING OF SOME DOUGLAS FIR AND REDWOODS FROM THE HILLS AND MOUNTAINS.

FARMING OF ORCHARDS, PRUNES, GRAPES, AND VEGETABLES WAS COMMON FROM THE 1890'S TO 1940'S. TODAY THEY HAVE LIVELY FARMERS MARKETS, AND IT IS A TOURIST DESTINATION. THERE MANY ANTIQUE STORES, VARIOUS PRICED RESTAURANTS, AND WELL AS SPAS, AND HOTELS. THERE HAVE BEEN ARTICLES ABOUT HEALDSBURG ART GALLERIES WRITTEN IN THE WALL ST JOURNAL. THE ARTISTS RANGE TO INTERNATIONAL MASTERS. THEY HAVE JAZZ FESTIVALS AND ANTIQUE AND RUSSIAN RIVER FOOD EVENTS IN THE PLAZA.

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