Forestville, California
| Forestville | |
|---|---|
| census-designated place | |
Downtown Forestville in 2007.
|
|
 Location in Sonoma County and the state of California |
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| Coordinates: 38°28′54″N 122°53′46″W / 38.48167°N 122.89611°WCoordinates: 38°28′54″N 122°53′46″W / 38.48167°N 122.89611°W | |
| Country |
 United States
|
| State |
 California
|
| County | Sonoma |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.257 sq mi (13.615 km2) |
| • Land | 5.257 sq mi (13.615 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 171 ft (52 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 3,293 |
| • Density | 630/sq mi (240/km2) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 95436 |
| Area code(s) | 707 |
| FIPS code | 06-24960 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1658564 |
Forestville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sonoma County, California, United States. It was settled by European Americans during the late 1860s and was originally named Forrestville after one of its founders. The spelling long ago became standardized with one "r". The population was 3,293 at the 2010 census, an increase of nearly 1,000 since the 2000 census.
By 1900, the community was known for attracting writers and artists and had a bohemian reputation. The small town has a limited number of businesses. Its public high school had 1,099 students in 2005, serving families of the Russian River (California) region.
Forestville's unofficial motto is "Forestville, The Good Life." This phrase appears on license plate holders sold at the local hardware store. The major road through town is Front Street for the length of the town, a distance of about three blocks, between Covey Road and Mirabel Road. It has been made part of Highway 116. The "downtown" blocks were first developed during the 1870s and 1880s. A fire destroyed many of the older structures, and existing buildings date mostly to the early 20th century. According to Sonoma State University professor Jonah Raskin, Forestville "was a gathering place for bohemians and writers and artists, circa 1900."
Today businesses in the town consist of one gas station, one bar, two grocery stores, two convenience markets, a pharmacy, several churches, a number of restaurants, a post office, an assortment of small businesses, a fire station operated by a volunteer fire department, a volunteer-run Youth Park, and three ATMs. The annual Forestville Youth Park Parade is held each June as a fund-raising event. It is associated with two days of music, bingo, and carnival rides in the Youth Park. Food and handicrafts booths are staffed by local vendors and non-profit organizations.
A number of bed and breakfast inns and wineries have been developed along the Russian River and to the east.
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