Sonoma’s History and Why We’re Proud to Serve the Sonoma Community
Sonoma’s origins lie with Mission San Francisco Solano, founded in 1823 by Padre José Altimira under Governor Luis Antonio Argüello. The mission—the last and northernmost of California’s 21 missions—was established to prevent Russian expansion and served as a spiritual and agricultural center.
After Mexico secularized the missions, Lieutenant Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo founded Pueblo de Sonoma on the former mission lands in 1835, laying out a grid and eight‑acre central plaza. In June 1846 American settlers seized Vallejo, raised the Bear Flag and proclaimed the short‑lived California Republic; the U.S. flag replaced the Bear Flag on July 9.
Sonoma briefly served as the Sonoma County seat until 1854, when the seat moved to Santa Rosa. The town later grew slowly as a farming center; Hungarian immigrant Agoston Haraszthy established California’s commercial wine industry at Buena Vista in the 1850s.
Today Sonoma is a small city of 10,739 residents with a thriving tourism and wine industry; unemployment is low and major industries include manufacturing, retail and healthcare. Its historic plaza and surrounding wineries draw visitors from around the world. Fast Plumbing & Drain is proud to serve Sonoma’s residents and businesses.