California

Sonoma

488,863
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Sonoma

Sonoma, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 560. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 488,863.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Bear Flag Revolt — Sonoma Garrison Fight, Bear Flag Revolt / Sonoma Seizure, Russian River Massacre — Pomo (May 1850), and 79 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020488,863
2010483,878
2000458,614
1990388,222
1980299,681
1970204,885
1960147,375
1950103,405
194069,052
193062,222
192052,090
191048,394
190038,480
189032,721
188025,926
187019,819
186011,867
1850560
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Sonoma

Military engagements that took place in Sonoma, California.

Bear Flag Revolt — Sonoma Garrison Fight
1846
Bear Flag Revolt / Sonoma Seizure
1846
Russian River Massacre — Pomo (May 1850)
1850

Historic places in Sonoma

National Register of Historic Places listings in Sonoma, California.

Buena Vista Vineyards-Buena Vista Vinicultural Society
Sonoma
Petaluma Adobe
Petaluma
Geyserville Union School
Geyserville
Sonoma Valley Woman's Club
Sonoma
McDonald Mansion
Santa Rosa
Hinds Hotel
Freestone
Free Public Library of Petaluma
Petaluma
Hood, William, House
Santa Rosa
Rosenburg's Department Store
Santa Rosa
Healdsburg Carnegie Library
Healdsburg
Duncan's Landing Site
Jenner
Madrona Knoll Rancho District
Healdsburg
Sebastopol Depot of the Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railway
Sebastopol
Bodega Bay
Bodega Bay
Old Petaluma Opera House
Petaluma
Hotel La Rose
Santa Rosa
Gold Ridge Farm
Sebastopol
Sonoma Grammar School
Sonoma
Sonoma State Home-Main Building
Eldridge
Laughlin, James H. and Frances E., House
Windsor
Vallejo Estate
Sonoma
Strout, George A., House
Sebastopol
Temelec
Sonoma
Orange Lawn
Sonoma
Browse all Californiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in California

Explore census history and historic records for more California counties.

Los AngelesMaderaMarinMariposaMendocinoMercedModocMonoMontereyNapaNevadaOrangePlacerPlumasRiversideSacramentoSan BenitoSan BernardinoSan DiegoSan Francisco
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Everything a full report reveals about Sonoma County, California

This page charts the census history of Sonoma County, California. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Sonoma

When does Sonoma first appear in the US census?
Sonoma, California first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 560.
What is the population of Sonoma?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Sonoma had a recorded population of 488,863.
Were any battles fought in Sonoma?
3 documented military engagements took place in Sonoma, including Bear Flag Revolt — Sonoma Garrison Fight, Bear Flag Revolt / Sonoma Seizure, Russian River Massacre — Pomo (May 1850).
How many historic places are in Sonoma?
79 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Sonoma, California.
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