Sonoma County CA Archives History - Books .....Topography 1877
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Book Title: Historical And Descriptive Sketch Of Sonoma County, California

TOPOGRAPHY.

   The main Coast Range, of which Monte Diablo is a well known and conspicuous
peak, continues northwesterly from Carquinez straits, and forms the water-shed
between the Sacramento valley and the coast country. This range passes through
Napa county, which bounds Sonoma on the east, and into and through the northeast
corner of Sonoma county, reaching an elevation above the sea level of three
thousand six hundred feet. The highest mountain in the county is Geyser peak, so
called from its proximity to the Geyser springs. This peak is three thousand
four hundred and seventy feet above the sea level. It is a prominent landmark,
visible from nearly all parts of the county. The Geyser springs, a well-known
California wonder, and a number of valuable quicksilver mines, are located in
this part of the county. From Geyser peak almost all of the county of Sonoma may
be seen, and the Pacific ocean, beyond the fair land on which it borders.

   A number of valleys extend southwesterly from the main chain of the Coast
Range, described above, which widen gradually, and front on the northern shore
of the bay of San Pablo. These valleys are separated from each other by spurs
from the Main Range, running parallel with the valleys. First, on the east, we
have the valley of Napa, which bounds Sonoma county on that side; then west of,
and nearly parallel with it, Sonoma valley, from which the county takes its
name; it forms, however, a very small portion of the county of Sonoma. West of
Sonoma valley, and separated from it by a high range of hills, is the largest,
most fertile, and most populous of all the valleys west of the great Sacramento
plain. It fronts on the north shore of San Pablo bay, and extends from the bay
shore inland for about sixty miles, and has an average width of ten to twelve
miles. The lower or most southerly section of this great valley is called
Petaluma—the central portion is called Santa Rosa, and the most northerly
portion is called Russian River valley. The three may be said to form one great
valley, through which the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad runs, from
its terminus on tide-water, for sixty miles, without a cut more than ten feet
deep on the entire line.

   The four great valleys which we have just mentioned are the chief
topographical features of Sonoma county. The hills separating Sonoma valley from
the great Central valley, terminate at Santa Rosa. About twenty-five miles from
its bay-shore, Sonoma valley, having gradually narrowed, merges into the great
Central valley. West of the Central valley lies the immediate coast country. The
southern section of the coast country lying just north of Marin county is
celebrated for its dairy products. The hills are rolling, destitute entirely of
trees or brush, and covered with a rich sward of grass, kept green most of the
year by its proximity to the ocean. This dairy-section extends nearly to Russian
river; along that river and north of it to the county line, the country is
densely timbered.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORICAL
AND
DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH
OF
SONOMA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
BY
ROBERT A. THOMPSON,
EDITOR OF "THE SONOMA DEMOCRAT."
PHILADELPHIA:
L. H. EVERTS & CO. 
1877.


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