Wingo, California

Wingo
Ghost town
Wingo

Location in California

Coordinates: 38°13′46″N 122°26′23″W / 38.22944°N 122.43972°WCoordinates: 38°13′46″N 122°26′23″W / 38.22944°N 122.43972°W
Country United States
State California
County Sonoma
Elevation 1 ft (0.3 m)
Time zone Pacific (PST) (UTC-8)
 • Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
Area code(s) 707
[1]

Wingo is a ghost town located in Sonoma County, California in the United States. It can be found on older maps as a dot along the sloughs of Sonoma Creek, south of the city of Sonoma and east of Schellville.

History

Formerly known as "Norfolk", it was given the name Wingo by the Railroad.[2] Now a ghost town of a few barns, cabins, and a train trestle, it was once a bustling town that served as a stop for steamer passengers from San Francisco.[3]

Wingo and its surrounding area of 738 acres has become a part of the Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area overseen by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.[4]

Land use

Formerly open to tidal action, the area was diked to create agricultural lands. During winter rains natural seasonal ponds are created.[4] Since this area is on a major migration route for many species of birds,[5] efforts are being made to create more seasonal and permanent freshwater ponds and to plant crops and grasses for wildlife.[4]

Wildlife

Wildlife that can be seen in and around Wingo include: Golden Eagles, American Kestrels, Red-tailed Hawks,Northern Harriers, owls, California Quail, Ring-necked Pheasant, bitterns, Turkey Vultures, coyotes, Cottontail Rabbit, shorebirds, ducks, kingfishers, herons, egrets, Mourning Doves, woodpeckers, swallows, songbirds and others.[4][5]

References

  1. ↑ US Harbors.com (November 2, 2012). "Wingo, Sonoma Creek Tides". ca.usharbors.com. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  2. ↑ Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 698. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  3. ↑ George Emanuels and Roger Emanuels (1998). Schools and Scows in Early Sonoma. Sonoma Valley Historical Society. p. 27. ISBN 0-9607520-7-2.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 dfg.ca.gov (March 12, 2013). "Bay Delat region Napa-Sonoma Marshes". dfg.ca.gov. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sonoma Valley Watershed Conservancy. "Wildlife in Sonoma Valley's Riparian Areas". Sonoma Valley Watershed Conservancy. Retrieved 2013-03-12.

External links