Valley Ford, California

Valley Ford is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in western Sonoma County, California, United States. It is located on State Route 1 in an area of rolling hills about 75 minutes north of San Francisco by automobile. Like all of Sonoma County, Valley Ford is included in both the San Francisco Bay Area and the Redwood Empire.The village lies just north of the Estero Americano, about 5mi from the Pacific Ocean. It is 7mi north of Dillon Beach, 9mi east of the town of Bodega Bay and 20mi southeast of Jenner. The Estero Americano is protected by the Estero Americano State Marine Recreational Management Area. Like an underwater park, this marine protected area helps conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.HistoryPrior to its settlement by Europeans, the indigenous Coast Miwok and Pomo people hunted, fished, and gathered in the area. A Miwok village named Ewapalt has been documented in the Valley Ford area.