Guernewood Park, California
Encyclopedia
Guernewood Park is an unincorporated
community in western Sonoma County
, California
, on the Russian River
, 17 mi (27 km) west of Santa Rosa
, and 1 mi (1.6 km) west of Guerneville, just off State Route 116
. Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve
and Austin Creek State Recreation Area
are to the north.
After the introduction of the railroad into the Russian River valley in the late 1800s, thousands of San Franciscans flocked to the region each summer. Soon, many of the famous big bands started to provide dance music at packed outdoor venues along the river even into the 1950s. Woody Herman
, Tommy Dorsey
and other famous names were frequent performers during the Big Band
era. Hollywood stars were also frequent visitors.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
community in western Sonoma County
Sonoma County, California
Sonoma County, located on the northern coast of the U.S. state of California, is the largest and northernmost of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. Its population at the 2010 census was 483,878. Its largest city and county seat is Santa Rosa....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, on the Russian River
Russian River (California)
The Russian River, a southward-flowing river, drains of Sonoma and Mendocino counties in Northern California. With an annual average discharge of approximately , it is the second largest river flowing through the nine county Greater San Francisco Bay Area with a mainstem 110 miles ...
, 17 mi (27 km) west of Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
, and 1 mi (1.6 km) west of Guerneville, just off State Route 116
California State Route 116
State Route 116 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California in Sonoma County. The route runs from State Route 1 on the Pacific coast near Jenner to State Route 121 south of Sonoma.-Route description:...
. Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve
Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve is a state park of California, USA, preserving of Coast redwood trees . The reserve is located in Sonoma County just north of Guerneville, California....
and Austin Creek State Recreation Area
Austin Creek State Recreation Area
Austin Creek State Recreation Area is a state park unit of California, USA, encompassing an isolated wilderness area. It is located in Sonoma County, California, adjacent to Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, with which it shares a common entrance. Its rugged topography includes ravines,...
are to the north.
History
In 1867, George E. Guerne, a young Swiss immigrant arrived in Stumptown. He purchased land and established a subdivision which became Guernewood Park. He constructed and operated a saw mill in Stumptown (later renamed Guerneville).After the introduction of the railroad into the Russian River valley in the late 1800s, thousands of San Franciscans flocked to the region each summer. Soon, many of the famous big bands started to provide dance music at packed outdoor venues along the river even into the 1950s. Woody Herman
Woody Herman
Woodrow Charles Herman , known as Woody Herman, was an American jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading various groups called "The Herd," Herman was one of the most popular of the 1930s and '40s bandleaders...
, Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
and other famous names were frequent performers during the Big Band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
era. Hollywood stars were also frequent visitors.
Content references
- Unincorporated Areas in California
- RRROC Draft Design Guidelines
- History of Armstrong Redwoods SR
- History of Russian River Recreation Area
- Russian River/West County Map
External links
- Armstrong Redwoods SR
- Austin Creek SRA
- Russian River Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center
- Russian River Redevelopment Oversight Committee (RRROC)
- Russian River Historical Society
- Historic Maps of Guernewood Park
- Topographic map from TopoQuest
- Street map from MapQuest