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Napa County, California

County

County of Napa

Images, from top down, left to right: Napa Valley welcome sign, Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, a view of Calistoga from Mount Saint Helena, Lake Berryessa

Current seal

Former seal

Location in the state of California

Country

United States

State

California

Region

San Francisco Bay Area

Founded

February 18, 1850

Named for

The city of Napa

County seat

Napa

Largest city

Napa

Government

• Type

Council–CEO

• Body

Board of Supervisors

Area

• Total

789 sq mi (2,040 km²)

• Land

748 sq mi (1,940 km²)

• Water

40 sq mi (100 km²)

Highest elevation

4,203 ft (1,281 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

138,019

• Density

185/sq mi (71/km²)

GDP

• Total

$13.166 billion (2022)

Time zone

UTC−8 (Pacific Time Zone)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−7 (Pacific Daylight Time)

Area code

707

FIPS code

06-055

GNIS feature ID

277292

Napa County (ⁱ/ˈnæpə/) is a county in northern California. It is located north of San Pablo Bay. In 2020, about 138,019 people lived there. The main city and county seat is Napa.

Napa County was one of California's first counties. It was created in 1850 when California became a state. Later, some of its land was given to Lake County in 1861.

Today, Napa County is famous for its wine industry. It became a top wine region in 1976. This happened when local wineries won a famous wine competition in Paris, France.

History of Napa County

Early Days: Before the 1800s

Long ago, the Patwin Native American people lived in the Napa Valley. They built villages near rivers. They ate wild roots, acorns, small animals, and even grasshoppers. In winter, they lived in huts made of tree branches. In summer, they camped by streams.

In 1776, Spanish Governor Felipe de Neve built a fort near Napa. Later, in the early 1800s, Russians from Sonoma County's Fort Ross brought cattle and sheep to graze in the valley.

The 1800s: Settlers Arrive

In 1823, Francis Castro and Father Jose Altimura were the first Europeans to explore Napa Valley. When the first white settlers arrived in the 1830s, there were six Native American tribes living in the valley. Many native people died in a smallpox outbreak in 1838. Some were also killed by settlers.

Between 1836 and 1846, California was part of independent Mexico. During this time, 13 large land grants called ranchos were given out in Napa County.

George C. Yount was one of the first English-speaking settlers in Napa County. In 1836, he received the Rancho Caymus land grant. He built the first log house in California and planted the first vineyard in the county. The town of Yountville is named after him.

Edward Turner Bale was granted Rancho Carne Humana. He built the Bale Grist Mill in 1846. The town of Napa was founded by Nathan Coombs in 1847.

After the Mexican–American War and the Mexican Cession in 1848, settlers received deeds to these ranchos. Many streets and landmarks in the valley still have names from these early land grants.

Late 1800s: Growth and Change

Napa County became one of California's original counties in 1850. This was when California joined the United States.

Early settlers like George Yount and Edward Bale had a big impact. Yount's granddaughter married Thomas Rutherford. They received land where the town of Rutherford is now. Rutherford became a successful wine grower. Edward Bale's daughter, Caroline, married Charles Krug. Krug started the valley's first commercial winery in 1861.

John Patchett opened the first commercial winery in Napa County in 1859.

The county's population grew as pioneers and business people moved in. They raised cattle and grew grain and fruit. Mining was also important. In 1858, a silver rush began in the eastern hills. Napa County became a center for silver and quicksilver mining in the 1860s.

Young vineyard in the valley with Mount Saint Helena in the background

The writer Robert Louis Stevenson wrote a book called The Silverado Squatters. It describes life in Napa Valley in the late 1800s. Stevenson and his family spent time at an old mine near Mount Saint Helena. His book also made the county's spas and hot springs popular. Tourists from San Francisco loved to visit to escape the cold weather.

In the mid-1860s, Samuel Brannan bought land and founded Calistoga. He developed it as a resort town because of its many hot springs. He also started the Napa Valley Railroad to bring tourists from San Francisco.

The Veterans Home of California Yountville was built in Yountville in 1884. It was a home for veterans.

The 1900s and Beyond

By the late 1800s, farmers had planted many fruit and nut trees, like plums and pears. This helped the economy when a bug called phylloxera damaged vineyards. It also helped during Prohibition, which made it illegal to sell alcohol. During Prohibition, many wineries closed. But farmers could still ship grapes to people who made wine at home.

During World War II, the Basalt Rock Company in Napa built rescue tugs for the United States Navy. German prisoners of war were housed near Yountville. They helped with farm work because many American workers were away fighting in the war.

After the war, the wine industry in Napa grew again. In 1965, Robert Mondavi started his own winery. It was the first big new winery since Prohibition. This helped Napa Valley become famous for its wines.

Napa Valley grapes

On August 24, 2014, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit the area. In October 2017, wildfires affected parts of the county. More fires, like the County Fire in 2018 and the Kincade Fire in 2019, also impacted Napa County.

Geography

Napa County covers about 789 square miles. About 748 square miles are land, and 40 square miles are water.

Napa has warmer summers than Sonoma County to the west. This is why Napa wineries often grow grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon. Wineries in Sonoma and Santa Barbara often grow Pinot noir and Chardonnay.

Rolling hills of Napa Valley

Fall in Napa Valley

Mount Saint Helena is in the northern part of Napa County. It is the second tallest peak in the Bay Area, at 4,344 feet. Robert Louis Stevenson State Park is also there. Napa County is home to many plants and animals, including some rare ones.

Neighboring Counties

Lake County (northwest)
Yolo County (northeast)
Solano County (east)
Sonoma County (west)

Protected Areas

San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Rivers and Creeks

Lakes, Marshes, and Reservoirs

East Napa Reservoir
East Side Reservoir
Fiege Reservoir
Lake Berryessa
Lake Hennessey
Lake Marie
Lake Orville
Lake Whitehead
Milliken Reservoir
Napa Sonoma Marsh
Rector Reservoir
West Napa Reservoir

Population Information

The 2020 census showed that Napa County had 138,019 people.

**Napa County, California – Racial and ethnic composition**
*Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.*
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	85,932	76,967	68,909	69.14%	56.39%	49.93%
Black or African American alone (NH)	1,527	2,440	2,300	1.23%	1.79%	1.67%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	642	544	507	0.52%	0.40%	0.37%
Asian alone (NH)	3,641	8,986	10,520	2.93%	6.58%	7.62%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	254	313	316	0.20%	0.23%	0.23%
Other Race alone (NH)	226	221	910	0.18%	0.16%	0.66%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	2,641	3,003	5,728	2.13%	2.20%	4.15%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	29,416	44,010	48,829	23.67%	32.25%	35.38%
Total	124,279	136,484	138,019	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

Economy

Napa County has a strong economy, with several important industries.

Healthcare and Social Assistance: This is the largest employer, with over 11,000 people working in hospitals and clinics. Major employers include Kaiser Permanente and Queen of the Valley Medical Center.
Manufacturing: This sector includes winemaking and has a very high annual payroll. There are over 500 wineries in Napa County.
Accommodation and Food Services: Many people work in hotels, resorts, and restaurants, serving tourists. Famous places like The French Laundry are here.
Retail Trade: This involves stores and shops, with many businesses selling goods.
Agriculture: While seasonal, farming, especially grape growing, is very important to the county's economy.

Wine Industry

Barrel room at Merryvale Winery in the valley

Napa Valley is known worldwide for its amazing wines. Winemaking here started in the early 1800s. By the late 1800s, there were over 140 wineries. Some of these, like Charles Krug Winery and Beringer, are still around today.

The wine industry faced big challenges. Prohibition (1920-1933) made it illegal to sell alcohol, forcing many wineries to close. Also, a tiny bug called phylloxera destroyed many grapevines.

However, some families, like the Mondavis, continued to grow and ship grapes. After Prohibition ended in 1933, the industry slowly rebuilt.

Robert Mondavi Winery, Napa

In 1965, Robert Mondavi started his own winery. This was a big step for Napa Valley. It helped bring new attention to the region. Many new wineries opened, and Napa's fame grew.

Chateau Montelena

Today, Napa Valley has over 400 wineries. They grow many types of grapes, like Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Millions of people visit the area each year to enjoy the wine and scenery.

Protecting Farmland

A vineyard in the valley

Napa County has worked hard to keep its farmland natural and open. Unlike some nearby counties, it has not allowed many farms to be turned into shopping centers or houses.

In 1968, leaders in the county used a law called the Williamson Act. This law helps landowners get tax breaks if they promise to keep their land for farming. Napa Valley was the first place in California to create such a large "agricultural preserve." It started with 23,000 acres and now covers over 30,000 acres.

The county has continued to protect this farmland. In 1990, voters approved a rule (Measure J) that makes it very hard to change zoning laws until 2020. This means most farmland cannot be used for other purposes.

The Land Trust of Napa County was started in 1976. This group works to protect the county's natural areas, beautiful open spaces, and farms. They now protect over 50,000 acres of land.

While residential growth has slowed in farming areas, cities within the county have continued to grow. New businesses and retail stores have opened, especially in American Canyon. American Canyon has also created its own "green belt" to protect over 1,000 acres of open land.

Education

Napa County has many public and private schools. It also has two colleges:

Pacific Union College: A four-year college with about 1,500 students.
Napa Valley College: A community college that offers two-year degrees.

K-12 Schools

School districts in Napa County include:

Calistoga Joint Unified School District
Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District
Napa Valley Unified School District
St. Helena Unified School District
Howell Mountain Elementary School District
Pope Valley Union Elementary School District

Library

The Napa County Library is the public library system. The main library is in downtown Napa. There are also branch libraries in American Canyon, Calistoga, and Yountville.

Media

Napa County has its own local media. These include:

Napa Valley Register (newspaper)
St. Helena Star (newspaper)
Weekly Calistogan (newspaper)
American Canyon Eagle (newspaper)
Calistoga Tribune (newspaper)
Yountville Sun (newspaper)
Napa Valley Life (magazine)
KVON 1440 kHz AM (radio)
KVYN 99.3 MHz FM (radio)

Transportation

Major Highways

State Route 12
State Route 29
State Route 121
State Route 128
State Route 221

Public Transportation

Vine Transit runs local bus services in Napa. It also has routes that connect to other cities like Vallejo, Fairfield, and Suisun City. There are also express routes to the El Cerrito Del Norte BART station and Suisun City Amtrak.

Airports

Napa County Airport is a general aviation airport south of Napa City.
Angwin-Parrett Field is a public airport near Angwin.

Rail

The Napa Valley Railroad is owned by the Napa Valley Wine Train. This train offers dining and tours. Passengers ride in vintage train cars on a 36-mile round trip from Napa to St. Helena.

Events

Napa Valley Welcome Center in downtown Napa.

Napa County hosts many fun events throughout the year.

The Napa County Fair happens every July in Calistoga.
The Napa Town and Country Fair takes place in mid-July in Napa.
Arts in April is a month-long celebration of art and culture. It helps bring tourists during the quieter winter months.
The Napa Valley Marathon is a running race held every March.
The Napa Valley Wine Auction happens in June. Wineries donate wines to be auctioned off. This event raises millions of dollars for local charities.

Festival Napa Valley

Since 2006, Napa Valley has hosted the Festival Napa Valley. This is an annual festival that celebrates food, wine, art, and music. It takes place at different locations across the valley.

Napa Valley Film Festival

The Napa Valley Film Festival started in 2011. It celebrates independent films and takes place every November.

BottleRock Napa Valley

BottleRock Napa Valley is a big music festival. It first happened in May 2013 in Napa. The festival features many bands and local wineries. It is now held every year on Memorial Day weekend.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Other Communities

Population Ranking

This table shows the population of cities and towns in Napa County based on the 2010 census.

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2010 Census)
1	† Napa	City	76,915
2	American Canyon	City	19,454
3	St. Helena	City	5,814
4	Calistoga	City	5,155
5	Angwin	CDP	3,051
6	Yountville	City	2,933
7	Deer Park	CDP	1,267
8	Silverado Resort	CDP	1,095
9	Moskowite Corner	CDP	211
10	Rutherford	CDP	164
11	Oakville	CDP	71