Why you'd want to live in Petaluma

Historic beauty and small town charm Incorporated in 1858, Petaluma is one of California’s oldest cities. With the distinction of being the birthplace of the first egg-hatching incubator, Petaluma quickly came to be known as the undisputed “egg basket of the world” by the early 1900s. And where did the farmers take their chickens when they were under the weather? To the Poultry Pharmacy to visit the Chicken Doctor, of course! It's true, Petaluma had the world's only Chicken Pharmacy, Chicken Rodeo and Egg Queen Ball, which helped cement its 100+ year nickname of “Chickaluma”. While the 1906 earthquake destroyed most of the surrounding towns, Petaluma managed to escape with minimal damage. As a result, the aggressive preservation of Petaluma’s precious downtown, historic residences and riverfront area is a long-standing municipal tradition. In 1995 Petaluma’s Victorian downtown was added to the National Register of Historic Places, while smart growth policies and downtown integration plans have allowed Petaluma to become the hipster and foodie mecca of Sonoma County. The rich architecture and vibrant downtown defines the soul of the population, which is friendly, welcoming and proud. It is this kind of beauty and small town charm that has inspired movie producers to make Petaluma the backdrop of award-winning movies such as Basic Instinct, Peggy Sue Got Married, Flubber, and the iconic, American Graffiti. With a population of approximately 60,438, Petaluma is the 152nd most populated city in California and is the second largest city In Sonoma County.