Population: 2,441
Elevation: 56 feet Land area: 3.3 square miles
Beautiful Guerneville is located in
west Sonoma County area of Northern California 14 miles east of the
Pacific Ocean in a location where the Russian
River winds its way through vineyards, grassy coastal hills and
forests of giant redwood trees. Guerneville is one of several towns
along the river such as Monte Rio, Cazadero, Forestville and Duncan
Mills that offer a perfect setting for a vacation or getaway.
In the mile or two near the
Guerneville Bridge (listed on the National Historic Register) that
leads into Guerneville, treehouse-like construction becomes
apparent. A flood in 1986 of historic proportions led the raging
Russian River into homes of lowlands Guerneville residents who
jacked up their houses with the aid of flood insurance. Just past
the Guerneville Bridge on high ground is Guerneville's
downtown where a weekly farmers' market is held. Also beyond the
bridge along the river is Johnsons
Beach, a gravel beach free to the public but
privately-owned.
Open from May 1 to October 1,
Johnsons Beach features canoes, kayaks and
paddleboats for rent plus umbrellas, inner tubes and beach chairs. A snack
bar is located at the beach as well as a popular spot roped-off as the
kiddies' pool area protected from the boat launch. It is also home to
several popular concert events featuring jazz and blues. Russian
River Blues Festival in June and Russian River Jazz Festival in
September attract well-known artists and large, enthusiastic
audiences. In existence since around World War I, Johnsons Beach continues to sell customer service and small town friendship. JOHNSON'S
BEACH & RESORT P.O. BOX 386 16241 First Street Guerneville, California
95446 Call: 707-869-2022 (www.johnsonsbeach.com)
Modern day Guerneville was first
settled on the 1st of May, 1860, by R. B. Lunsford on the bank of
the Russian River on what was known as Big Bottom. There was a
hollow stump which stood just above the town, in which twenty horses
could stand. Guerneville was called Stumptown at that time. During
the 1860's loggers floated
newly-felled trees along the Russian River from Stumptown to mills.
From Sonoma County historical files
comes this account of early Guerneville: "Heald & Guern’s saw and
planing-mill is located in the town. It employs about sixty men, and
cuts between three and four million feet of lumber a year, making
mouldings, brackets, scroll work, &c. Murphy Bros.’ saw and planing-
mill is located half a mile from the town; it cuts from twenty to
twenty-five thousand feet a day, and employs about forty men. R. B.
Lunsford’s shingle- mill, near by, cuts from fifteen to twenty-five
thousand shingles a day.
There is one general merchandise store in the town, one grocery
store, one market, one boot and shoemaker, two hotels and one
restaurant, one livery stable, one blacksmith shop and one wagon
shop, one church, one public-school, one lodge, (Enterprise, No. 356
of Independent Good Templars), and one chair-factory, run by S. W.
Faudre. J. W. Bagley is postmaster. A branch of the San Francisco
and North Pacific Railroad runs from Fulton on the main trunk to
Guernville. This road has just been completed, and connects the
great Central valley of Sonoma county with the timber section. This
affords a fine opportunity for tourists to see the redwood trees of
Sonoma, second only in size to the mammoths of Calaveras. Four miles
from Guernville, Mount Jackson and the Great Eastern quicksilver
mines are located. A wagon-road is proposed, and will be built from
Guerneville to the coast, which will turn a large portion of the
coast-travel via Guerneville to San Francisco. It is said that the
narrow-gauge road will be extended from Moscow, its terminus on
Russian river, to Guerneville."
Once a much busier place than
today, sternwheelers and small ferries with names like the Quickstep and
the River Queen took passengers up and down short stretches of the
Russian River. From the 1940's to the late 60's, for instance, Captain M.B.
"Bid" Greene offered a leisurely cruise on the Russian River between
Guerneville and Rio Nido two miles away. Bid played music to enhance
the redwood scenery.
More ...> > >
Guerneville History
Guerneville & Sonoma County
Wineries
