Valley Ford, California

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Valley Ford, California
other_name = Fowlerville
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = right
pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of California
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = California
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Sonoma
unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes = cite web|url=http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/sd/communityprofiles/California/Valley_Ford_CA.pdf|title=Valley Ford, California Community Profile|publisher=Northwest Fisheries Science Center]
area_total_sq_mi = 3.27
area_land_sq_mi = 3.27
area_water_sq_mi = 0
area_water_percent = 0
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 60
timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
latd = 38 |latm = 19 |lats = 5 |latNS = N
longd = 122 |longm = 55 |longs = 27 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 16
elevation_ft = 52
elevation_footnotes = Gnis|236972|Valley Ford]
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 in western Sonoma County, California, United States. It is located on State Route 1 in an area of rolling hills about 75 minutes north of San Francisco by automobile. 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 the Estero Americano, about convert|5|mi|km|0|lk=on|abbr=on from the Pacific Ocean. It is convert|7|mi|km|0|abbr=on north of Dillon Beach and convert|9|mi|km|0|abbr=on east of the town of Bodega Bay.

History

Prior to its settlement by Europeans, the indigenous Coast Miwok and Pomo people people hunted, fished, and gathered in the area. A Miwok village named "Ewapalt" has been documented in the Valley Ford area.cite web|url=http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/california/miwokindianhist.htm|title=Access Genealogy: Miwok Indian Tribe]

Europeans explored the coastline in the early 1600s, 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. in 1850, the year California became a U.S. state, the area was made part of Sonoma County.

Valley Ford had a grain mill in the mid 1800s.Fact|date=November 2007 Starting in the 1870's, 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.

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 [http://www.rockeroysterfellers.com 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, and
* [http://www.gabbygirlonline.com Gabby Girl] , a gift shop.

Moore-Doors (a vendor of hand-crafted wooden screen doors) and the headquarters of capo manufacturer Shubb are also in Valley Ford.

References

Geographic Location
Centre = Valley Ford
North = Freestone
Northeast = Sebastopol
East = Bloomfield
Southeast = Two Rock
South = Tomales
Southwest = Dillon Beach
West = Bodega
Northwest =