Petaluma's Historical Rivalry with 'Petaluma City' Over Shipping Port Dominance Unveiled
Petaluma, California, faced an early existential crisis in 1852 with the emergence of a rival settlement, 'Petaluma City,' located a few miles downstream on the Petaluma Creek. This new town aimed to usurp Petaluma's role as Sonoma County's primary shipping port. Historically, waterways were crucial for transportation, and Petaluma Creek was used by schooners to transport goods like game meat, potatoes, and hay to San Francisco. While paddlewheel steamboats were absent from the creek, a legend suggests a 'steamboat rumble' where Petaluma City developers convinced the captain of the Red Jacket steamer to navigate to their landing. Petalumans reportedly countered by persuading the same captain to pilot the steamboat through the challenging bends to their docks, ultimately leading to the demise of Petaluma City. However, author John Patrick Sheehy, a 'history detective,' suggests this 'steamboat rumble' is largely a myth, arguing that the lack of steamboat traffic was more likely due to Petaluma's limited goo...
