By the late twentieth century the three valleys had won formal recognition as American Viticultural Areas, and Healdsburg's identity settled into place: Zinfandel from Dry Creek, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Russian River, Cabernet from Alexander Valley — a town defined by what grows around it. The Russian River still runs through it all, with its swimming beaches in summer and its mist in the cool of the morning.
The town began with the Gold Rush. Harmon Heald, an Ohio businessman, came west and settled on the old Mexican Rancho Sotoyome; in 1857 he platted a town around a Spanish-style central Plaza, and in 1867 Healdsburg was incorporated. The Pomo people had lived in this valley long before — renowned basketweavers whose presence is woven into the region's deeper history. When the railroad arrived in 1871, the farm country of prunes, hops, and orchards began its long turn toward the grape.
Why People Visit Healdsburg
Healdsburg pairs walkable small-town charm with world-class wine country. Visitors split their time between the plaza, the river, and the surrounding valleys, drawn by the food, the vineyards, and the refined-yet-down-to-earth Sonoma ambiance. It's a gentle, gracious base for the whole of northern Sonoma County.
