Monte Rio, California

Monte Rio is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sonoma County, California along the Russian River near the Pacific Ocean. The town of Guerneville lies east of Monte Rio, and Jenner is slightly north-west. The population was 1,152 at the 2010 census, up from 1,104 at the 2000 census. Bohemian Grove is located in Monte Rio.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²). 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) of it is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km²) of it (3.68%) is water.

History

Starting in the 1870s, Monte Rio was a stop on the North Pacific Coast Railroad connecting Cazadero to the Sausalito, California ferry. Portions of the 1942 Academy Award winning film "White Christmas" were filmed at the Village Inn Resort in Monte Rio.

During the second half of the 19th century, the area was heavily logged. However, the Sonoma Lumber Company preserved a 160-acre (65 ha) grove of old-growth redwood trees, which was sold to San Francisco's Bohemian Club in 1899. The club purchased dozens of other parcels in the area, and now owns 2,712 acres (1,098 ha), which it uses for its summer retreats.