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Santa Rosa
citySanta Rosa, the county seat of Sonoma County, California, is situated in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As the largest city in California's Wine Country and Redwood Coast, Santa Rosa offers a blend of urban amenities and access to natural beauty. The city had a population of approximately 177,300 in 2026. Santa Rosa's economy is diverse, with key industries including technology, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and tourism. The city serves as a hub for entrepreneurial businesses, retail, banking, and employment in the surrounding four-county region. Its location in the heart of wine country also supports a thriving tourism sector. Founded in 1833 and incorporated in 1868, Santa Rosa has a rich history rooted in its early days as an agricultural center. Today, it maintains a balance between urban development and a small-town feel, offering residents and visitors a high quality of life with access to arts, culture, food, wine, and recreation.
Santa Rosa, California
Overview
- Classification
- City
- FIPS Code
- 06-70098
- Country
- United States
- County
- Sonoma County
Geography
- Region
- North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area
- Elevation
- 160 ft
- Total Area
- 41.5 sq mi
- Land Area
- 41.29 sq mi
- Water Area
- 0.21 sq mi
- Latitude
- 38.44861
- Longitude
- -122.70472
- Climate
- Warm-summer Mediterranean climate with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Fog and low overcast are common in the summer evenings and mornings.
- Notable Features
- Santa Rosa Plain · Santa Rosa Creek · Laguna de Santa Rosa · Bennett Peak · Mount Hood · Sonoma Mountains · Taylor Mountains
- Neighboring Areas
- Petaluma · Rohnert Park · Windsor · Sonoma · Healdsburg · Sebastopol
Demographics
- Population (2020)
- 178,127
- Est. Population (2026)
- 177,300
- Median Age
- 41.2
- Median Income
- $99,060
- Poverty Rate
- 9.72%
- Family Households
- 62.3%
- Owner-Occupied
- 56.7%
- Racial & Ethnic Composition
- The racial composition of Santa Rosa includes 48.7% White, 37.4% Hispanic, 6.3% Asian, 1.9% Black, and 1.3% Native American/Other.
Governance
- Government Type
- Council-Manager
- Governing Body
- City Council
- Body Size
- 7 members
- School District
- Santa Rosa City Schools
- Municipal Services
- Police · Fire · Public Works
U.S. Congress
Padilla, AlexD
U.S. SenatorSchiff, Adam B.D
U.S. RepresentativeHuffman, JaredD
U.S. Representative - District 2Kiley, KevinI
U.S. Representative - District 3Thompson, MikeD
U.S. Representative - District 4McClintock, TomR
U.S. Representative - District 5Bera, AmiD
U.S. Representative - District 6Matsui, Doris O.D
U.S. Representative - District 7Garamendi, JohnD
U.S. Representative - District 8Harder, JoshD
U.S. Representative - District 9DeSaulnier, MarkD
U.S. Representative - District 10Pelosi, NancyD
U.S. Representative - District 11Simon, LateefahD
U.S. Representative - District 12Mullin, KevinD
U.S. Representative - District 15Khanna, RoD
U.S. Representative - District 17Lofgren, ZoeD
U.S. Representative - District 18Panetta, JimmyD
U.S. Representative - District 19Fong, VinceR
U.S. Representative - District 20Costa, JimD
U.S. Representative - District 21Valadao, David G.R
U.S. Representative - District 22Obernolte, JayR
U.S. Representative - District 23Carbajal, Salud O.D
U.S. Representative - District 24Ruiz, RaulD
U.S. Representative - District 25Brownley, JuliaD
U.S. Representative - District 26Whitesides, GeorgeD
U.S. Representative - District 27Chu, JudyD
U.S. Representative - District 28Rivas, Luz M.D
U.S. Representative - District 29Friedman, LauraD
U.S. Representative - District 30Cisneros, Gilbert RayD
U.S. Representative - District 31Sherman, BradD
U.S. Representative - District 32Aguilar, PeteD
U.S. Representative - District 33Gomez, JimmyD
U.S. Representative - District 34Torres, Norma J.D
U.S. Representative - District 35Lieu, TedD
U.S. Representative - District 36Kamlager-Dove, SydneyD
U.S. Representative - District 37Sánchez, Linda T.D
U.S. Representative - District 38Takano, MarkD
U.S. Representative - District 39Kim, YoungR
U.S. Representative - District 40Calvert, KenR
U.S. Representative - District 41Garcia, RobertD
U.S. Representative - District 42Waters, MaxineD
U.S. Representative - District 43Barragán, Nanette DiazD
U.S. Representative - District 44Tran, DerekD
U.S. Representative - District 45Correa, J. LuisD
U.S. Representative - District 46Min, DaveD
U.S. Representative - District 47Issa, DarrellR
U.S. Representative - District 48Levin, MikeD
U.S. Representative - District 49Peters, Scott H.D
U.S. Representative - District 50Jacobs, SaraD
U.S. Representative - District 51Vargas, JuanD
U.S. Representative - District 52Economy
- Economic Profile
- Dynamic and well-balanced economy · Hub for technology and entrepreneurial businesses, retail, banking and employment · Tourist-oriented
- Employment Sectors
- Health Care & Social Assistance · Retail Trade · Manufacturing
Education
- Students
- 16,000
- School Districts
- Santa Rosa City Elementary School District · Santa Rosa City High School District
- Colleges & Universities
- Santa Rosa Junior College
Infrastructure
- Transportation
- US Route 101 · Santa Rosa CityBus · SMART Rail
- Utilities
- Municipal water · Fiber/broadband
- Major Facilities
- Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital · Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport
Recreation
- Outdoor Access
- Yes
- Major Recreation Areas
- Annadel State Park · Spring Lake County Park · Howarth Park · Laguna de Santa Rosa · Doran Regional Park
- Parks & Trails
- City parks · Creek trails
History
- Founded
- 1833
- Incorporated
- 1868
- Named After
- Saint Rose of Lima
- Historical Significance
- Evolved from a small agricultural hub to a regional center for commerce, government, and medical facilities.
- Key Events
- Founded by Mexican colonists · Became the county seat of Sonoma County in 1854 · Devastated by an earthquake in 1906 · Designated as a regional headquarters for civil defense in 1958