Healdsburg History
Earliest Residents
Thousands of years ago, this beautiful, lush area we call Healdsburg
was home to the Pomo Indians. These early residents built their
villages in the open, fertile valleys along the Russian River.
They hunted the elk, bears, and mountain lions that roamed the
dense oak and madrone forests along the meandering River. Occasional
visits of European sailing vessels on the California Coast from
the 1500's to early 1800's had little impact on our area.
The Gold Rush Years
The mid-1800's, however, brought new settlers. The Russians built
Fort Ross on the coast, and the Mexican government established
the vast 48,800-acre Rancho Sotoyome here. This enormous land
grant was awarded to sea captain Henry Delano Fitch in 1841.
Fitch promptly hired trapper Cyrus Alexander to manage his bountiful
rancho; the magnificent Alexander Valley is named for this early
tenant. The California Gold Rush of 1849 brought itinerants,
squatters, and failed miners to the more generous farming land
here. Over the year, these squatters settled on the verdant land
owned by the Fitch family. In 1857 a fight named the "Westside
Road Wars" commenced among the squatters. One of the winners
of this colorful "conflict" was Harmon Heald, an
Ohio entrepreneur.
Harmon's Vision
Harmon constructed a store and post office in what is now downtown
Healdsburg. He then carefully laid out a town grid and sold lots
for the heady price of $15 each. Harmon saw a grand plan for
the village that would be his namesake, and plotted a town complete
with a central Spanish-style Plaza. Our thriving, hospitable
Plaza remains one of the few examples of early California town
planning in existence today.
City Comes To Life
Officially incorporated in 1867, young Healdsburg prospered. Residents
quickly constructed all the necessities of city life, a City
Hall, landscaped Plaza, water mains, bridges, offices - even
a Public Library. The long-awaited arrival of the Northwestern
Pacific Railway in 1871 brought increased commerce and success.
Looking Back
Today, our Plaza plays host to Summer concerts, lively events and
picnics. The
Museum features fine examples of Pomo basketry, and the Public
Library is home to the county's Wine Library. In the River called "Ashokawna" by
the Pomos, the current residents and visitors fish, canoe, swim
and play.
We think you'll find Healdsburg as desirable and pleasing a place to live as our early residents did.
