The area’s first known inhabitants were the native Coast Miwok and Pomo peoples. The town was formed in the 1850s and was originally named Pinegrove. The name change (according to rumor) had something to do with a bar fight in the late 1850s, which was compared to the long British siege of the seaport of Sevastopol—which is sort of ironic considering it’s current pacifist, nuclear-free leanings.

Something I also didn’t know was that one time four other California towns were also named Sebastopol: one in Napa County, renamed Yountville; one in Tulare County; one in Sacramento County, and one in Nevada County.

The town in Sonoma County originally had the name Pinegrove; the name change (according to rumor) had something to do with a bar fight in the late 1850s, which was compared by a bystander to the long British siege of the seaport of Sevastopol