Historic photos of Sonoma County life in 1959

1959 was a year of great change in around the globe and close to home. Click through our gallery of historic photos to catch of glimpse of Sonoma County life 60 years ago.|

In 1959, Sonoma County was slowly evolving from a sleepy farm community to a thriving urban center. The Coyote Dam was completed and the first Russian River water flowed from Santa Rosa faucets. Pacific Gas & Electric Company met resistance on the coast after announcing its plans to build a nuclear power plant on Bodega Head.

The Mayette Village was annexed, adding 102 people to Santa Rosa's 37,000 residents and increasing the city's boundaries to 11.2 square miles. And beatnik culture, taking root in San Francisco, was slowly creeping north with coffeehouses like Bottega on Santa Rosa Avenue hosting evenings folk music, art and lively debate.

Click through our gallery above to catch a glimpse of Sonoma County life in 1959.

Columnist Gaye LeBaron contributed to this report.

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