The tribal name "Chucuines a Sonomas" first appeared in 1815 in the mission baptismal lists. It was probably General Mariano Vallejo who first popularized the translation of the name as The Valley of the Moon.

The valley reaches northward from the waterways and broad plain near San Pablo Bay, narrowing between Sonoma Mountain to the west and the Mayacamas range along the east toward the distant city of Santa Rosa. There are several unique towns and villages scattered along the way, each with a history worth remembering. The following brief statements about each one of them can certainly be enlarged upon.

Schellville

In 1823 boats began pulling into the Embarcadero, or landing place, to deliver the equipment and supplies needed by the growing population of the valley. Warehouses were built at Poppe’s Landing and Norfolk, later known as Wingo. The region was eventually named after Theodore Schell in 1879. There is a local post office at Vineburg CA 95487.

Agua Caliente

The medicinal springs at Agua Caliente (“Hot Water”) were advertised as early as 1847 by Andrew Hoeppner, who was given 1000 acres of land by General Vallejo the year before in exchange for piano lessons for his children.

El Verano

The name of this town (“The Summer”) was chosen by its developer, George Maxwell, to emphasize its perfect climate to prospective buyers. It was established in 1888, when the Southern Pacific railroad arrived.

Boyes Hot Springs

In 1895 Captain Henry Ernest Boyes (a retired officer in the Queen’s Navy) developed the mineral hot springs that are still in use today by the Sonoma Mission Inn.

Fetters Hot Springs

George and Emma Fetters opened Fetters Hot Springs in 1908, which quickly became one of the area’s leading resorts as seasonal tourism was firmly established in Sonoma Valley.

Eldridge

The State of California purchased 1,670 acres from William Hill in 1891 for what is now known as the Sonoma Developmental Center, where services and support are provided to children and adults with developmental disabilities. It is named after a ship’s captain, Oliver Eldridge.

Glen Ellen

When Col. Charles V. Stuart built his ranch in 1869 he named it Glen Ellen, in honor of his wife Ellen. In 1901 the township of Glen Ellen was established as a separate region from the town of Sonoma, reaching as far south as Eldridge and as far north as Kenwood. To avoid confusion, Col. Stuart changed the name of his ranch to Glen Oaks, which it is still called today. The picturesque village we know as Glen Ellen grew around the two busy railroad stations that served it. Other settlements such as Eldridge, Jack London Village, and Kenwood went on to develope identities of their own.

Kenwood

The Mexican government awarded the Rancho Guilucos land grant to Scottish sea captain John Wilson in 1837. The region went by different names until the arrival of the railroad. Finally the matter was put to a vote in 1895, and the name Kenwood was chosen.