Carneros, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carneros
Former settlement
Carneros Location in California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Napa County
Elevation	2 m (7 ft)

Carneros was once a small community in Napa County, California. It was located very close to sea level, only about 7 feet (2 meters) high. This area was important because it was along the Southern Pacific Railroad line. Carneros was about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) northwest of Napa Junction.

What is a Former Settlement?

A "former settlement" means a place where people used to live and work, but it is no longer an active town or community today. Sometimes, these places become ghost towns. Other times, they are simply absorbed into larger cities nearby. Carneros is an example of a place that was once settled but is not a distinct community anymore.

The Story Behind the Name

The name Carneros comes from a historic land grant called the Rancho Rincon de los Carneros. In the early days of California, a "rancho" was a large piece of land given by the Spanish or Mexican government. These ranches were often used for raising livestock, like sheep or cattle. The word "Carneros" itself means "sheep" in Spanish. This suggests that the area might have been known for sheep farming a long time ago.

A Brief History

Even though Carneros was a small settlement, it had its own post office for a short time. A post office is a place where people can send and receive mail. Having a post office usually means there was enough activity and enough people living in an area to need this service. The post office in Carneros operated from 1867 to 1868. This shows that for a brief period, Carneros was a recognized community with its own postal services.