| City of Rohnert Park | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| — City — | |||
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| Location in Sonoma County and the state of California | |||
| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | California | ||
| County | Sonoma | ||
| Incorporated | August 28, 1962[1] | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Council-manager | ||
| • Mayor | Pam Stafford[2] | ||
| • Vice Mayor | Gina Belforte[2] | ||
| • City Manager | Gabriel A. Gonzalez[3] | ||
| Area[4] | |||
| • Total | 7.008 sq mi (18.149 km2) | ||
| • Land | 7.003 sq mi (18.136 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.005 sq mi (0.013 km2) 0.07% | ||
| Elevation[5] | 105 ft (32 m) | ||
| Population (2010) | |||
| • Total | 40,971 | ||
| • Density | 5,846.3/sq mi (2,257.3/km2) | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) | ||
| ZIP codes | 94926-94928 | ||
| Area code(s) | 707 | ||
| FIPS code | 06-62546 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1656263 | ||
| Website | http://www.ci.rohnert-park.ca.us/ | ||
Rohnert Park is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, located approximately 50 miles (80 km) north of San Francisco. The population at the 2010 United States Census was 40,971. It is an early planned city, modeled directly after Levittown, New York and Levittown, Pennsylvania. Rohnert Park is the sister city of Hashimoto in Japan. Sonoma State University, part of the California State University system, is located in the city.
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According to the United States Census Bureau, Rohnert Park has a total area of 7.0 square miles (18 km2), 99.93% of it land and 0.07% of it water.
Also, according to the Census Bureau, the city is entirely land. In actuality, there is a small reservoir called Roberts Lake at the north end of the city and a number of creeks. Important creeks include the Laguna de Santa Rosa (which forms part of the border with the City of Cotati), Copeland Creek, Hinebaugh Creek, Crane Creek and Five Creek.
All creeks within the city limits have been channelized. Spivock Creek, Coleman Creek, Wilfred Channel, and Labath Channel are artificial channels designed to convey runoff.
The Rodgers Creek Fault is an active fault influencing earthquake activity in the Rohnert Park area.[6] The city also experiences earthquakes from the San Andreas Fault.
The city is organized into sections, designated by the letters A-H, "J", "L", "M", "R", and "S". In most cases, the names of streets and parks begin with the letter of the section they are in.[7] Thus:
Riparian communities within the city are limited by channelization of creekbeds. Vegetation alongside the City's streams primarily consists of grass and sedge species. The Laguna de Santa Rosa contains bands of thick native riparian vegetation, including various willow (Salix spp.) and alder (Alnus spp.) trees.[8]
Sudden oak death fungus risks are present in the Rohnert Park area. Research is ongoing at the nearby Fairfield Osborn Preserve.[9]
The 2010 United States Census[10] reported that Rohnert Park had a population of 40,971. The population density was 5,846.8 people per square mile (2,257.5/km²). The racial makeup of Rohnert Park was 31,178 (76.1%) White, 759 (1.9%) African American, 407 (1.0%) Native American, 2,144 (5.2%) Asian (1.3% Filipino, 1.0% Chinese, 0.8% Indian, 0.4% Vietnamese, 0.4% Japanese, 0.4% Korean, 0.2% Laotian), 179 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 3,967 (9.7%) from other races, and 2,337 (5.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9,068 persons (22.1%). Among the Hispanic population, 17.3% are Mexican, 1.0% are Salvadoran, 0.6% Puerto Rican, and 0.4% Guatemalan.
The Census reported that 99.0% of the population lived in households and 1.0% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters.
There were 15,808 households, out of which 4,842 (30.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 6,546 (41.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,883 (11.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 907 (5.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,201 (7.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 144 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 4,177 households (26.4%) were made up of individuals and 1,374 (8.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57. There were 9,336 families (59.1% of all households); the average family size was 3.13.
The population was spread out with 8,571 people (20.9%) under the age of 18, 6,853 people (16.7%) aged 18 to 24, 11,035 people (26.9%) aged 25 to 44, 10,710 people (26.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,802 people (9.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.0 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
There were 16,551 housing units at an average density of 2,361.9 per square mile (911.9/km²), of which 54.0% were owner-occupied and 46.0% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.8%. 55.8% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 43.3% lived in rental housing units.
As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 42,236 people, 15,503 households, and 9,797 families residing in the city. The population density was 6,564.5 people per square mile (2,534.6/km²). There were 15,808 housing units at an average density of 2,457/sq mi (949/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.28% White, 1.97% African American, 0.78% Native American, 5.58% Asian, 0.42% Pacific Islander, 5.72% from other races, and 5.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.57% of the population.
There were 15,503 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 14.8% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males. The median income for a household in the city was $51,942, and the median income for a family was $61,420. Males had a median income of $41,757 versus $31,149 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,035. About 3.2% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those over age 64.
Rohnert Park is governed by a city council of five members, who serve staggered four-year terms. Municipal elections are held in November of even-numbered years.[12]
In the state legislature Rohnert Park is located in the 3rd Senate District and the 6th Assembly District. In the United States House of Representatives, Rohnert Park is part of California's 6th congressional district.
Originally home of the Coast Miwok native people,[13] the Mexican government granted Rancho Cotate to Captain Juan Castaneda in July 1844 for his military services in the region. The grant encompassed present-day Penngrove, Cotati and Rohnert Park. "Cotate Rancho is a part of the Vallejo Township which is the plain between Sonoma Mountain and Petaluma Creek San Pablo Bay, and an east and west line dividing the tract from Santa Rosa Township." [14][15]
Rancho Cotate was sold in 1849 to Dr. Thomas S. Page, of Cotati, and eventually broken up and sold off piecemeal to incoming settlers.[14] The town of Rohnert Park was named after the Rohnert family who owned the Rohnert Seed Farm. In 1929, a successful businessman, Waldo Emerson Rohnert, (born 1869 - died 1933), a native of Detroit, Michigan, purchased a large ranch here and minimized flooding in the fields with a crude drainage system but died shortly after. His son, Fred Rohnert, a graduate of Stanford Law School took over the ranch and developed a seed growing business, the Rohnert Seed Farm, which turned into a major horticultural success for the county.[14]
In the year 1956, only four adult residents lived within the district boundaries, but in 1957 with the 101 Freeway newly completed at the Cotati bypass, Rohnert Park began to be built and laid out as a planned city. In a summer election of 1962, Rohnert Park was incorporated, comprising 1,325 acres (536 ha), housing an estimated 2,775 persons, the first town in Sonoma County to incorporate since 1905. The historic neighboring town of Cotati, California voted to incorporate the following year.[14]
The Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District serves the city, which is also home to Sonoma State University.
Rancho Cotate High School is the main comprehensive high school for both Rohnert Park and Cotati. Technology High School is a small public high school located on the Sonoma State University campus.
Alternative education consists of:
Rohnert Park was the home of Brande Nicole Roderick (born June 13, 1974), who is an American model and actress. She is perhaps best known for her appearances in Baywatch and Playboy.
Jim Nielsen claimed that he lived primarily in a condominium near Sonoma State while he was a State Senator representing the area, though he primarily lived in his Woodland estate which was outside the district.
Pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, after pitching for the Seattle Mariners. Attended *Rancho Cotate High School
Contestants Sam Poueu and Koli Palu of the 9th season of The Biggest Loser are residents of Rohnert Park.
The hardcore punk band Ceremony was formed in Rohnert Park. They have an album called Rohnert Park after the town.
Sonoma Mountain Village Rohnert Park is a 200-acre (0.81 km2), solar-powered, zero-waste community currently under development. Construction is scheduled to begin on the first homes in Spring 2012.[16]
| Sebastopol | Santa Rosa | Taylor Mountain | ||
| Bloomfield | Sonoma Mountain | |||
| Rohnert Park | ||||
| Two Rock | Cotati | Penngrove |
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