Duncans Mills, California
Encyclopedia
Duncans Mills is an unincorporated
town located in Sonoma County, California
.
about 4 mi (6 km) from the Pacific Ocean
. It straddles State Route 116
.
The record high was 113 °F (45 °C) on July 14, 1972, and the record low was 14 °F (−10 °C) on December 23, 1990.
Duncan's Mills often experiences blue skies when the surrounding hills are shrouded in fog or rain clouds.
Mexican land grant.
In 1877, Alexander Duncan established a sawmill in what is today Duncans Mills. The mills sent lumber to the growing city of San Francisco
.
The town was founded in the 1870s. It featured two hotels, a general store, a saloon, a meat market, blacksmith, livery stable, and a notion shop.
Starting in the 1870s, the narrow-gauge North Pacific Coast Railroad
ran through Duncans Mills on its way from Cazadero, California
to Sausalito
. After being sold several times, the railroad ceased operation in the 1930s. The town slowly faded, until a 1976 restoration project, associated with the celebration of the U.S. Bicentennial, brought about a period of building restoration and business re-vitalization.
Today, Duncans Mills resembles the way it was originally built. It has an authentic Northwestern Pacific Railroad
Depot and several original cars from the old railroad line. A California State Park Ranger Station is located in one of the old railroad buildings as the California State Park Store with a selection of books and maps about the area.
.
Restaurants include Gold Coast Coffee and Bakery, Blue Heron Restaurant and Bar and the Cape Fear Cafe.
Antiques, gifts, and locally-grown flowers are sold.
There are at least three art galleries: mini photos of around the world, local artists, and early Californian. Wine and cheese tastings are offered.
Many Civil War reenactments have been performed adjacent to the town.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
town located in Sonoma County, California
Sonoma County, California
Sonoma County, located on the northern coast of the U.S. state of California, is the largest and northernmost of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. Its population at the 2010 census was 483,878. Its largest city and county seat is Santa Rosa....
.
Geography
Duncans Mills is located at 38°27′14"N 123°3′18"W on the Russian RiverRussian River (California)
The Russian River, a southward-flowing river, drains of Sonoma and Mendocino counties in Northern California. With an annual average discharge of approximately , it is the second largest river flowing through the nine county Greater San Francisco Bay Area with a mainstem 110 miles ...
about 4 mi (6 km) from the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. It straddles State Route 116
California State Route 116
State Route 116 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California in Sonoma County. The route runs from State Route 1 on the Pacific coast near Jenner to State Route 121 south of Sonoma.-Route description:...
.
Climate
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Precip. (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57 | 36 | 8.65 |
| February | 62 | 38 | 7.64 |
| March | 65 | 40 | 6.15 |
| April | 70 | 41 | 2.25 |
| May | 76 | 45 | 1.03 |
| June | 81 | 48 | 0.25 |
| July | 84 | 49 | 0.08 |
| August | 84 | 49 | 0.11 |
| September | 82 | 48 | 0.52 |
| October | 77 | 43 | 2.01 |
| November | 66 | 38 | 5.85 |
| December | 57 | 34 | 6.29 |
The record high was 113 °F (45 °C) on July 14, 1972, and the record low was 14 °F (−10 °C) on December 23, 1990.
Duncan's Mills often experiences blue skies when the surrounding hills are shrouded in fog or rain clouds.
Demographics
According to the 2000 census, about 175 people live in Duncans Mills. There are around 42 family households and 31 non-family households. Each household has an average of 2-3 people. In Duncans Mills there are 129 houses, and 56 of them are vacant and 52 of them are seasonal, recreational, of occasional use.History
Duncans Mills was once part of the Rancho MunizRancho Muniz
Rancho Muniz was a Mexican land grant in present day Sonoma County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to Manuel Torres. The grant extended along the Pacific coast from Salt Point State Park on the north to the Russian River on the south...
Mexican land grant.
In 1877, Alexander Duncan established a sawmill in what is today Duncans Mills. The mills sent lumber to the growing city of San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
.
The town was founded in the 1870s. It featured two hotels, a general store, a saloon, a meat market, blacksmith, livery stable, and a notion shop.
Starting in the 1870s, the narrow-gauge North Pacific Coast Railroad
North Pacific Coast Railroad
The North Pacific Coast Railroad was a common carrier narrow gauge steam railroad begun in 1874 and sold in 1902 to new owners who renamed it the North Shore Railroad and which rebuilt the southern section into a standard gauge electric railroad.The NPC operated in the northern California...
ran through Duncans Mills on its way from Cazadero, California
Cazadero, California
Cazadero is an unincorporated town and census-designated place in western Sonoma County, California, United States with a population of 354 as of the 2010 Census. Nearby towns include Jenner, Annapolis, Stewart's Point, Duncans Mills, Villa Grande, Rio Nido, Guerneville, Monte Rio, and The Sea Ranch...
to Sausalito
Sausalito, California
Sausalito is a San Francisco Bay Area city, in Marin County, California, United States. Sausalito is south-southeast of San Rafael, at an elevation of 13 feet . The population was 7,061 as of the 2010 census. The community is situated near the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, and prior to...
. After being sold several times, the railroad ceased operation in the 1930s. The town slowly faded, until a 1976 restoration project, associated with the celebration of the U.S. Bicentennial, brought about a period of building restoration and business re-vitalization.
Today, Duncans Mills resembles the way it was originally built. It has an authentic Northwestern Pacific Railroad
Northwestern Pacific Railroad
The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California...
Depot and several original cars from the old railroad line. A California State Park Ranger Station is located in one of the old railroad buildings as the California State Park Store with a selection of books and maps about the area.
Attractions
There is a campground along the Russian River with facilities for RVsRecreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
.
Restaurants include Gold Coast Coffee and Bakery, Blue Heron Restaurant and Bar and the Cape Fear Cafe.
Antiques, gifts, and locally-grown flowers are sold.
There are at least three art galleries: mini photos of around the world, local artists, and early Californian. Wine and cheese tastings are offered.
Many Civil War reenactments have been performed adjacent to the town.