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San Geronimo Valley is located in Marin County, California, composed of four unincorporated towns: Woodacre, San Geronimo, Forest Knolls, and Lagunitas. It is a fairly close-knit community, with a rather liberal citizenry.[citation needed] The farther west one goes along the valley, the more forested the land becomes. The valley is bisected roughly east-to-west by Sir Francis Drake Boulevard; a number of streets in the towns along this road were constructed on the former right-of-way of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad. The valley has numerous hiking/biking trails. Most of the residents reside on the south, shadier, side of the valley.
| San Geronimo Valley | |
|---|---|
| Naming | |
| Native name | Arroyo de San Gerónimo (Spanish)[1] |
| Geography | |
| Location | Marin County, California, United States |
| Population centers | |
| Traversed by | Sir Francis Drake Boulevard |
| Rivers | San Geronimo Creek |
 Interactive map of San Geronimo Valley | |
History
editIt has been suggested that portions of Rancho San Geronimo (Cacho) be split out from it and merged into this section. (Discuss) (May 2026) |
The San Geronimo Valley derives its name from Rancho San Geronimo. The ranch was purchased by Adolph Mailliard and Ann Eliza Ward in 1868, where they bred thoroughbred horses, including the famous stallion Monday, who sired most of the race horses in California.[2] Both had come from prominent backgrounds in Europe and the Eastern United States. Adolph was the son of Louis Maillard, the secretary to Joseph Bonaparte, the king of Naples and Spain during the Napoleonic era, who had emigrated to the United States after the fall of Napoleon.[3] Ann was a descendent of the Ward family of Rhode Island and New York, and was the sister of Julia Ward Howe, who composed the lyrics to the "Battle Hymn of the Republic".[4] Their son, who grew up on the ranch, was ornithologist Joseph Mailliard. Marin County business leader and congressman William S. Maillard was a direct descendent of theirs.[2] The Mailliard family owned the property until the 1910s.[5]
Schools
editThe Valley is part of the Lagunitas School District, unique in that it operates two alternative elementary programs and a traditional middle school program on two connected campuses with one superintendent, one principal, and one school board. Each elementary program (Open Classroom, Montessori-inspired) has its own unique philosophy and pedagogical methods, all working within the framework of the California professional and academic standards. Each program involves parent participation to some degree.
Features
edit
Woodacre is home to Spirit Rock Meditation Center, dedicated to the teachings of Buddha and Vipasannā mediation; Dickson Ranch, Creekside Equestrian Center, and the Marin County Fire Department headquarters. San Geronimo Valley also comprises the greater part of the Lagunitas Watershed, where some of the last remaining coho salmon spawn. The San Geronimo Valley Community Center, attached to the school district, is a hub for community events and hosts the local food bank.
References
edit- ↑ Gudde, Erwin G (2010). California Place Names: A Geographical Dictionary. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. p. 201.
- 1 2 Mailliard, William Somers (1993). "The Mailliards of California: a family chronicle, 1868-1990". Internet Archive. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
- ↑ Selin, Shannon (2014-08-01). "Joseph Bonaparte's secretary, Louis Mailliard". Shannon Selin. Retrieved 2026-05-26.
- ↑ "Portrait of Ann Eliza Ward Mailliard". Online Archive of California. 1860. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
- ↑ "- Brief History of the San Geronimo Valley". San Geronimo Valley Historical Society. Retrieved 2022-10-02.