Calistoga, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Calistoga, California
City
Clockwise from top left: Castello di Amorosa; downtown Calistoga; Chateau Montelena; downtown Calistoga
Seal
Location of Calistoga in Napa County, California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Napa
Incorporated	January 6, 1886
Area
• Total	2.59 sq mi (6.72 km2)
• Land	2.58 sq mi (6.67 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)  0.70%
Elevation	348 ft (106 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,228
• Density	2,028.72/sq mi (783.36/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (Pacific)
ZIP code	94515
Area code(s)	707
FIPS code	06-09892
GNIS feature IDs	277482, 2409963

Calistoga is a city in Napa County, California, United States. It is located in the North Bay area of the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2020, about 5,228 people lived there.

Calistoga was started in 1868. This happened when the California Pacific Railroad was built. The town quickly became a popular place for tourists because of its hot springs. Today, Calistoga is still a favorite spot for visitors. It is known for its many vineyards and important historical sites.

History of Calistoga

Calistoga Hot Springs in 1873

Larkmead Winery, built in 1884

Long ago, the Upper Napa Valley was home to many Indigenous People called the Wappo. They lived there during the Spanish colonial time in the late 1700s. There were many oak trees that gave them acorns for food. The natural hot springs were also a place for healing. Calistoga was called Nilektsonoma by the Wappo, which means "Chicken Hawk Place." Several villages were located here.

After Mexico became independent, the Mexican government took over mission lands. Much of the Napa Valley was divided into large ranches in the 1830s and 1840s. The first American settlers began to arrive in the 1840s. Some of them settled in the Calistoga area.

Samuel Brannan was a leader who brought a group of Mormons to California in 1846. He started San Francisco's first English newspaper. After gold was found in Coloma, Brannan became very rich. He was fascinated by Calistoga's natural hot springs. So, he bought over 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) of land. He wanted to build a spa resort there, like Saratoga Springs in New York.

A view of Calistoga around 1890

Mr. Brannan gave the name Calistoga to the town in 1867. People say he accidentally mixed up the words "Saratoga of California" and said "Calistoga of Sarafornia." Before that, Americans called the place Hot Springs. The Spanish and Native Americans called it Agua Caliente.

Brannan's Hot Springs Resort opened in 1862. It was a place for California's rich and famous people. The Napa Valley Railroad tracks reached Calistoga in 1868. This made it easier for people to travel from San Francisco by ferry. Calistoga then became a main travel spot for the upper Napa Valley. It was also a gateway to Lake and Sonoma Counties.

The Calistoga Hot Springs around 1940

The Mount View Hotel, built in 1918

Calistoga's economy was based on mining (for silver and mercury), farming (grapes, prunes, and walnuts), and tourism (the hot springs). One famous visitor was Robert Louis Stevenson. He wrote a book called Silverado Squatters while on his honeymoon near Mount Saint Helena.

In 1920, Giuseppe Musante found a hot water source while drilling for a cold water well. In 1924, he started bottling and selling Calistoga Sparkling Mineral Water. This company grew and is now known as Calistoga Water Company.

In 2001, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Calistoga a "Distinctive Destination."

In 2017, the Tubbs Fire started near Calistoga. Most of the city's people had to leave their homes. In 2020, the Glass Fire also caused the city to be evacuated.

Geography of Calistoga

An aerial view of Calistoga

Calistoga covers about 2.6 square miles (6.7 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Climate in Calistoga

A view of Mount Saint Helena

Calistoga has cool, wet winters. Temperatures often drop to freezing about 35 days a year. Summers are usually very dry. Daytime temperatures often reach 90°F (32°C) or higher for about 70 days. But nights are cool, dropping to around 50-55°F (10-13°C).

The average temperature in January is between 39°F (4°C) and 59°F (15°C). In July, the average temperature is between 55°F (13°C) and 90°F (32°C). The hottest temperature ever recorded was 118°F (48°C) in September 2022. The coldest was 10°F (-12°C) in December 1932.

Calistoga gets about 38.58 inches (980 mm) of rain each year. It rains on about 65 days. Snow is rare in the city itself, but it often falls in the nearby mountains during winter.

People of Calistoga

A Gondola lift at Sterling Vineyards

In 2010, Calistoga had a population of 5,155 people. Most residents were White (72.5%). About 49.4% of the people were of Hispanic or Latino background.

There were about 2,019 households in Calistoga. About 31% of these households had children under 18 living in them. Many households were married couples living together. The average household had about 2.5 people.

The age of people in Calistoga varied. About 22.6% were under 18 years old. About 18.7% were 65 years or older. The average age was 40 years old.

The historic Garnett Creek stone bridge, built in 1902

In 2000, the city's population was 5,190. The average income for a household was about $38,454. About 8% of the population lived below the poverty line.

What Calistoga is Known For

Chateau Montelena, built in 1882

Some of the main places that employ people in Calistoga include the Solage resort, the Calistoga Joint Unified School District, Indian Springs Calistoga resort, and the Calistoga Spa Hot Springs. Nearby, you can also find vineyards like Sterling Vineyards.

Tourism and Fun Things to Do

Calistoga is at the northern end of the Napa Valley Calistoga AVA. This area is part of California's famous Wine Country. There are many wineries nearby. The city lets visitors see Wine Country as it was a long time ago. There are only two-lane roads leading there. Also, fast food restaurants are not allowed by law.

Calistoga is famous for its hot springs spas, like the Calistoga Spa Hot Springs. A special thing to do there is to soak in hot volcanic ash, which is called a mud bath.

Another fun place to visit nearby is an artificial geyser. It is known as the "Old Faithful of California" or "Little Old Faithful." This geyser shoots water from a well that was drilled a long time ago.

Famous People from Calistoga

• Bob Knepper, a former Major League Baseball player, went to Calistoga High School.
• Tom Seaver, another former Major League Baseball player, lived near Calistoga.
• Dick Vermeil, a former head coach for NFL teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and St. Louis Rams, was born in Calistoga.

See also

In Spanish: Calistoga para niños