Valley Ford, California

{{Short description|Unincorporated community in California, United States}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement   |official_name = Valley Ford |image_skyline = ValleyFordCA3184.jpg |imagesize = 300px |image_caption = Valley Ford in 2008 |pushpin_map = California |pushpin_label_position = right  |pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of California  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{Flagu|United States}} |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = {{flagu|California}} |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = Sonoma  |area_magnitude = | unit_pref =US | area_footnotes =<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2025}}</ref> | area_total_sq_mi = 2.642 | area_land_sq_mi = 2.642 | area_water_sq_mi = 0 | area_total_km2 = 6.842 | area_land_km2 = 6.842 | area_water_km2 = 0 | area_water_percent = 0 | area_note =

|population_as_of = 2020 |population_total = 148 |population_footnotes =<ref name="2020 census">{{cite web |title=Valley Ford CDP, California |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0681778 |website=census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=June 9, 2022}}</ref> |population_density_km2 = auto

|timezone = PST |utc_offset = -8 |timezone_DST = PDT |utc_offset_DST = -7 |coordinates = {{coord|38|19|5|N|122|55|27|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}} |elevation_m = 16 |elevation_ft = 52 |elevation_footnotes =<ref name="gnis">{{Gnis|236972|Valley Ford}}</ref>  |postal_code_type = ZIP code |postal_code = 94972 |area_code = 707 |blank_name = FIPS code |blank_info = 06-81778 |blank1_name = GNIS feature ID |blank1_info = 236972 }}

'''Valley Ford''' is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in western Sonoma County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, Valley Ford had a population of 148.<ref name="Census2020PLLede">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N&for=place%3A81778&in=state%3A06|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=March 6, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> It is located on State Route 1 north of San Francisco. Like all of Sonoma County, Valley Ford is included in both the San Francisco Bay Area and the Redwood Empire.

The village lies just north of Americano Creek, approximately {{convert|5|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} from the Pacific Ocean. It is {{convert|7|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} north of Dillon Beach, {{convert|9|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} east of the town of Bodega Bay and {{convert|20|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} southeast of Jenner. The Estero Americano is protected by the Estero Americano State Marine Recreational Management Area.

==History== For millennia, the indigenous Coast Miwok and Pomo people have hunted, fished and gathered in the area.<ref name="profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/sd/communityprofiles/California/Valley_Ford_CA.pdf|title=Valley Ford, California Community Profile|date=January 5, 2023 |publisher=Northwest Fisheries Science Center}}</ref> A Miwok village named ''Ewapalt'' has been documented in the Valley Ford area.<ref name="miwok">{{cite web|url=http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/california/miwokindianhist.htm|title=Access Genealogy: Miwok Indian Tribe|date=July 9, 2011 }}</ref>

Europeans explored the coastline in the early 17th century but did not settle until 1812, when Russian fur traders came south from Alaska and built Fort Ross about {{convert|22|mi|km|-1|abbr=on}} northwest of Valley Ford. The Russians remained until 1841, when the area came under Mexican rule.<ref name="profile"/> In September 1850, California became a US state, the area was made part of Sonoma County.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2021 |title=It's time to celebrate California Admission Day! Wait, what's Admission Day? |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-09-07/what-is-california-admission-day |access-date=2022-06-19 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> left|thumb|Watson School Valley Ford had a grain mill in the 1850s. Starting in the 1876, Valley Ford was a stop on the North Pacific Coast Railroad connecting Cazadero to the Sausalito ferry, enabling local ranchers and fishers to export produce to San Francisco.<ref name="profile"/><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Thompson |first1=R. A. |url=https://digital.sonomalibrary.org/documents/detail/391014?item=391200 |title=Historical atlas map of Sonoma County, California |publisher=Mid-Cal Publishers |year=1877 |location=Fresno, Calif. |access-date=2024-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228110300/https://digital.sonomalibrary.org/documents/detail/391014?item=391200 |archive-date=December 28, 2024 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>

In 1976, Christo and Jeanne-Claude's installation art piece ''Running Fence'' passed through Valley Ford on its way from Cotati to Bodega Bay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://christojeanneclaude.net/rf.shtml|title=Running Fence|access-date=2009-01-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126044050/http://christojeanneclaude.net/rf.shtml|archive-date=2009-01-26|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Open from 1856 to 1967, Watson School once served as Valley Ford's school, and is located in a Sonoma County Regional Parks Department historic park, approximately 3.5 miles north of Valley Ford.

==Geography== According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 2.6 square miles (6.8 km{{sup|2}}), all land.

==Demographics== {{US Census population |2010= 147 |2020= 148 |align-fn=center |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=United States Census Bureau|access-date=}}</ref><br>2010<ref name=2010CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> }}

The population at the 2020 United States census was 148.<ref name="2020 census"/> The population density was {{convert|56.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Valley Ford was 102 (68.9%) White, 0 (0.0%) African American, 2 (1.4%) Native American, 2 (1.4%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 23 (15.5%) from other races, and 19 (12.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38 persons (25.7%).<ref name=DP1>{{cite web |title=Valley Ford CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0681778 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 17, 2025}}</ref>

The whole population lived in households. There were 53 households, out of which 12 (22.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 31 (58.5%) were married-couple households, 6 (11.3%) were cohabiting couple households, 8 (15.1%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 8 (15.1%) had a male householder with no partner present. 11 households (20.8%) were one person, and 4 (7.5%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.79.<ref name=DP1/> There were 33 families (62.3% of all households).<ref>{{cite web |title=Valley Ford CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0681778 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 17, 2025}}</ref>

The age distribution was 27 people (18.2%) under the age of 18, 5 people (3.4%) aged 18 to 24, 47 people (31.8%) aged 25 to 44, 40 people (27.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 29 people (19.6%) who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 42.0{{nbsp}}years. There were 74 males and 74 females.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 60 housing units at an average density of {{convert|22.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}, of which 53 (88.3%) were occupied. Of these, 46 (86.8%) were owner-occupied, and 7 (13.2%) were occupied by renters.<ref name=DP1/>

==Nitrates in Groundwater== Warnings of high nitrate levels associated with surrounding dairy ranches have led some residents to drink, cook and even bathe with bottled water. Some dining establishments have resorted to relying on water delivered from Petaluma. In early 2017, the State Water Resources Control Board issued a warning that pregnant women and infants younger than 6 months should not consume the town's well water. The warning also cautioned against boiling, freezing or filtering the water.[7]

==Businesses== Valley Ford is home to antique stores, art galleries, curio shops and restaurants: * [http://www.ffrsi.com Valley Ford Hotel], one of the few remaining buildings dating from the 19th century, now houses Rocker Oysterfeller's Kitchen & Saloon and six guest rooms. * [http://www.westcountydesign.com West County Design], a gallery for wood tables, polished concrete and other products of Sonoma County artisans,. The Valley Ford Market features the regionally well-known Batemon's Meats. * [http://www.valleyfordconstructioncorp.com Valley Ford Construction Corporation], Valley Ford Construction Corporation, General Engineering. * The headquarters of capo manufacturer Shubb is also in Valley Ford. * Carolyn's Canvas manufactures a variety of canvas goods.

==Education== It is in the Shoreline Unified School District.<ref name=SDMap2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06097_sonoma/DC20SD_C06097.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Sonoma County, CA|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-12-07}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06097_sonoma/DC20SD_C06097_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist}} 7. [https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/bucolic-valley-ford-faces-water-problems-linked-to-dairies/?sba=AAS Bucolic Valley Ford faces water problems linked to dairies]

==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://www.sonoma-county.org/parks/pk_watsn_restor.htm County of Sonoma Watson School Restoration Project]

{{Geographic location | Centre = Valley Ford | North = Freestone | Northeast = Sebastopol | East = Bloomfield | Southeast = Two Rock | South = Tomales | Southwest = Dillon Beach | West = Bodega Bay | Northwest = Bodega }}

Category:Census-designated places in Sonoma County, California Category:Unincorporated communities in California Category:Census-designated places in California Category:Unincorporated communities in Sonoma County, California