Bodega, CA Local Info

Bodega is situated along Bodega Highway, approximately 5 miles west of Freestone, California. Initially known as Bodega Corners or Bodega Roads, the town earned its moniker to distinguish it from the nearby Port of Bodega, now recognized as Bodega Bay, located about four miles away. This namesake honors the bay's discoverer, Juan Francisco Bodega y Caudra, who first navigated its waters in 1775. 

Historically, this area saw its first European presence with temporary Russian settlements established in 1809 at Bodega Bay and the Salmon Creek Valley on the ancestral lands of Coast Miwok people.

Agriculture is prominent in the region, with establishments like Salmon Creek Ranch engaged in livestock rearing and the sale of organic goods. Now this little town is known for Saint Teresa of Avila Church which the shipbuilders erected in 1859, and Watson School, which remained in operation from 1856 to 1967, stands preserved in a park approximately 2 miles east of Bodega.

Cazadero, a secluded community deep inside the rugged landscapes of West Sonoma County, requires a scenic drive to reach. This locale encompasses the region extending from the meeting point of Austin Creek and the Russian River, where California State Route 116 intersects with Cazadero Highway. The town itself is situated about 6 miles north of Route 116.