Petaluma is a city located in Sonoma County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 54,548.

Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park contains the Petaluma Adobe, a National Historic Landmark. It was built beginning in 1836 by General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, then Commandant of the San Francisco Presidio. It was the center of a vast 66,000 acre ranch stretching from Petaluma Creek to Sonoma Creek. The adobe is considered one of the best preserved buildings of its era in Northern California.

On October 1, 1993, Polly Klaas was kidnapped from her Petaluma home. She would later be murdered.

Geography

Petaluma is located at 38°14'45" North, 122°37'53" West (38.245849, -122.631276)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 36.0 km² (13.9 mi²). 35.7 km² (13.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.72% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 54,548 people, 19,932 households, and 14,012 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,526.2/km² (3,953.1/mi²). There are 20,304 housing units at an average density of 568.1/km² (1,471.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 84.16% White, 1.16% African American, 0.54% Native American, 3.91% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 6.08% from other races, and 3.98% from two or more races. 14.64% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 19,932 households out of which 36.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% are married couples living together, 10.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% are non-families. 22.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.70 and the average family size is 3.16.

In the city the population is spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $61,679, and the median income for a family is $71,158. Males have a median income of $50,232 versus $36,413 for females. The per capita income for the city is $27,087. 6.0% of the population and 3.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.2% of those under the age of 18 and 7.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

• Maps and aerial photos
  • Street map from Mapquest (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=38.245849&longitude=-122.631276&zoom=6)
  • Topographic map from Topozone (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=38.245849&lon=-122.631276&s=200&size=m&layer=DRG100)
  • Aerial photograph from Terraserver (http://terraservice.net/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-122.631276&lat=38.245849&w=750&h=500)