Wingo, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wingo, California
Ghost town
Wingo, California Location in California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Sonoma
Elevation	7 ft (2 m)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
Area code(s)	707

Wingo is a ghost town in Sonoma County, California. A ghost town is a place that was once busy but is now mostly empty. You can find Wingo on old maps. It is located near the waterways (called sloughs) of Sonoma Creek. Wingo is south of Sonoma and Schellville, and west of Buchli.

The Story of Wingo: From Busy Port to Ghost Town

Wingo was first called Norfolk. It was a station for steamships. In 1879, the railroad renamed it Wingo. This place was once a very busy town. It was a stop for passengers traveling by steamer from San Francisco.

Today, Wingo is a ghost town. You can only see a few old barns, cabins, and a train bridge. The area around Wingo, about 738 acres, is now part of the Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife looks after this land.

The Railroad and Its Unique Bridge

The Northwestern Pacific Railroad tracks go right through Wingo. Before the tracks reach Wingo, they cross a special bridge. This bridge is a drawbridge. It can be opened by hand using a chain. Both cars and trains can cross this bridge.

Land Use: How the Area Changed

Long ago, the Wingo area was open to the ocean's tides. People built walls, called dikes, to create farmland. This changed how the land was used.

Now, during winter rains, natural ponds form here. Wingo is on a major path for many birds that migrate. Because of this, people are working to create more ponds. They are also planting crops and grasses. This helps provide food and homes for the wildlife.

Wildlife: Animals You Might See

The Wingo area is home to many different animals. It is a great place for nature lovers.

• Golden eagles
• American kestrels
• Red-tailed hawks
• Northern harriers
• Owls
• California quail
• Ring-necked pheasants
• Bitterns
• Turkey vultures
• Coyotes
• Cottontail rabbits
• Wading birds
• Ducks
• Kingfishers
• Herons
• Egrets
• Mourning doves
• Woodpeckers
• Swallows
• Songbirds

Wingo in Popular Culture

Wingo has even been mentioned in music! Two songs have referenced this unique place.

• Norton Buffalo tried to make Wingo famous with his song "High Tide in Wingo."
• Later, he teamed up with Roy Rogers for the song "Ain't no Bread in the Breadbox." The music video for this song was filmed right in Wingo.