Cotati, California
Cotati is a charming town with a population of just under 8,000 residents. It lies east of highway 101 in Sonoma County and is about 50 miles north of San Francisco.
The town of Cotati, 1911
1. History
The Coastal Miwok called this place Kota'ti. In 1827, the village received its first visitor, John Thomas Reed, a young Irish immigrant who built a cabin and planted wheat. In the 1890’s, Newton Smyth designed downtown Cotati’s hexagonal plaza and street grid. In 1907, the Northwestern Pacific Railroad built the Cotati Depot. Today, the SMART train has a stop in Cotati, which makes commuting to Marin County or San Francisco a breeze.
2. Schools
Students living in Cotati attend the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District. The district has six elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools, one K-8 school, and a TK-12th grade online, independent study program. Sonoma State University is also situated right next to Cotati in the town of Rohnert Park.
3. Restaurants and Activities
The La Plaza Park, in downtown Cotati, hosts a weekly farmer’s market, as well as other yearly events. Be sure to check out the Accordion Festival, Oktoberfest, or the Cotati Music Festival.
Downtown Cotati has a great selection of restaurants given its small size. Try Acme Burger for a truly delicious burger and fries. The Vietnamese food at Mai Vietnamese Cuisine is superb. Cotati is also one of the lucky towns in Sonoma County to have an Oliver’s Market. Oliver’s is a fantastic place to do your grocery shopping. They also have great prepared food and a phenomenal bakery. Try their Princess Cakes for a sweet treat!
