About Penngrove


The town of Penngrove is located off of Highway 101 in the foothills of the Sonoma Mountain between Petaluma and Cotati. The town has had quite a varied past, and its main attraction to visitors is its abundance of beautiful historical buildings. It is believed that Penngrove started out as a grove of olive trees. When the olives produced were found to be inedible, but trees were uprooted and the land sold. The Northwestern Pacific Railroad came to the town in 1870, which led to a booming cobblestone business that brought great prosperity to the town. The cobblestones removed from Penngrove’s three quarries paved San Francisco. In the 1900s, however, the main industry became chickens and eggs, which is reported to have been even more lucrative than gold mines.

Today, Penngrove’s major industry is tourism; its well-preserved and beautiful historic buildings being the main draw. Buildings of particular note both historically and architecturally are the Penngrove Community Church, Penngrove school, the post office, fire department, Penngrove Community Clubhouse, the bank building and the Penngrove Rail Station. The town is also home to several art galleries and the Fairfield Osborn Preserve.



Penngrove Facts


The small town of Penngrove is easy to reach from Highway 101 and provides the chance to enjoy a number of historic buildings, galleries, and even a nature preserve.

Penngrove has a lot of obsidian and petrified wood due to the ancient volcanism of nearby Sonoma Mountain. Although the origins of the name Penngrove is unclear, one of the theories is that two brothers with the last name of Penn planted a grove of olive trees in the area. The venture failed, but the name stuck.

Location / Terrain:

The terrain of Penngrove is characterized by foothills and the Petaluma River.

Population: 2522


Driving Time/Directions

Penngrove Map:

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Penngrove Zip Code:

94951

Penngrove Elevation:

85 feet

Penngrove Resources


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Best For:

Penngrove will be most enjoyed by visitors with an appreciation for architecture and history. Its small collection of art galleries will also be enjoyed by those who collect or simply appreciate art.

Upcoming Events In Penngrove


Mack's - Open Mike
Open House
Brewnel
Nate Lopez - 7 And 8 String Guitarist
Dontrotta
Undercover

Penngrove's Annual Events


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Specials near Penngrove


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Penngrove California Information

Located between the towns of Petaluma and Cotati, just a few miles off Highway 101, the unincorporated town of Penngrove boasts about 4,000 residents and sits in the foothills of Sonoma Mountain.

Historians say it once sat in a grove of olive trees and records show that it was a well-known center for chicken and egg farming. The town was also the site of 3 major cobblestone quarries in the late 19th century and Penngrove stone was used to pave the streets of San Francisco.

Today, visitors stop in Penngrove to view a number of old, historic buildings. Check out the post office, built in 1882; the Penngrove Community Church, constructed around the turn of the century; and the cool 1938 art deco firehouse.

Penngrove activities should include gallery browsing as several fine artists have made their home in this small town. For outdoor fun, visit the Fairfield Osborn Preserve, part of nearby Sonoma State University, dedicated to "protecting and restoring natural communities and to fostering ecological understanding through education and research." Classes, lectures, hikes, and children's programs are available at the Preserve.


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