‘Friendly’ facts: Did you know this about Rohnert Park, the Friendly City?
NorthBay biz
People Power
When plans were first laid out in the 1950s to turn the former Rancho Cotate into the town of Rohnert Park, only four people resided on the 2,700-acre property
Population at the time of incorporation in 1962: 2,775
Population today: 44,546
Source: U.S. Census estimate, 2023
Aerial view of the city after initial phase of development, circa 1958. [University of California archive, Sonoma County Library collection]
Call Me By My Name
The name of the city was chosen by vote: “Rohnert Park” preferred over “Cotati Park,” 398-128.
Founding father
Paul Golis, one of the attorneys who first conceived of creating a city on the Rohnert seed farm, has been called the “Father of Rohnert Park.”
[University of California archives, Sonoma County Library collection]
Didn’t Overstay Welcome
Rohnert Park’s first mayor was Peter Callinan, elected in 1962. He resigned from the city council in 1963 to become city manager.
Cities in Common
Rohnert Park is the sister city of Hashimoto, Japan.
The planning concepts for Rohnert Park were inspired by Levittown, Pennsylvania, one of the first post-WWII planned communities in the U.S.
Well-Known Grads
NASA astronaut Nicole Aunapu Mann graduated from Rancho Cotate High School in 1995; former MLB pitcher Brandon Morrow graduated from Rancho Cotate High School in 2003.
