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.
Earliest
Residents
