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==History== [[File:Guerneville, California (1875).jpg|thumb|right|Hiram Epperly's Saloon in Guerneville, 1875]] Guerneville developed adjacent to the [[Russian River (California)|Russian River]]. [[Coast Redwood|Redwoods]] grew in the riverbed with such vigor that just a few centuries ago, the valley had the greatest biomass density on the planet, according to local lore.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} The local [[Pomo people|Pomo]] Indians had long used the area as a summer camp and called it "Ceola" ({{IPAc-en|Λ|s|iΛ|oΚ|l|eΙͺ}} or ''cee-oh-lay'') which meant "shady place." A large stand of ancient trees is preserved in the Fife Creek watershed, now the centerpiece of [[Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve|Armstrong Woods Park]]. But many of the trees were logged in the late 19th century and the early 20th century, giving rise to the first English name for the place β "Stumptown." Logging in the area boomed after vast amounts of lumber were needed for rebuilding after the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and associated fires. The annual town parade still commemorates the old place name by calling itself "Stumptown Days." The present name Guerneville was introduced to honor Swiss immigrant George Guerne, a local businessman of the 19th century who owned the town's sawmill.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.russianrivertravel.com/stewards-armstronghistory.htm |title= History of Armstrong Redwoods |website= RussianRiverTravel.com |location= Guerneville, California |access-date= 2013-08-22 |quote= In 1867 a 25 year old Swiss immigrant arrived in Stumptown. His name was George E. Guerne. Guerne purchased land in the area and laid out a subdivision which became known as 'Guernewood Park'. Guerne also built and operated a sawmill in Stumptown.}}</ref> By 1870, there was a U.S. Post Office in Guerneville; it was listed by the name "Guerneville".<ref>{{cite book |author= United States Post Office Department |author-link= United States Post Office Department |title= Revenues and Classes of Post Offices |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=NC4wAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Guerneville,+Sonoma...Cal%22&pg=PA85 |access-date= 2013-08-22 |year= 1870 |page= 85 |quote= Guerneville, Sonoma, Cal}}</ref> Although locals may be found selling T-shirts that say "Don't call it Guerneyville" (alluding to the "GURN-vil" pronunciation),<ref>{{cite web |url= http://melodymontero.com/sonoma_county/cities_and_towns/guerneville |title= Guerneville |last= Montero |first= Melody |access-date= 2013-08-21 |quote= As the local tee shirts say, 'don't call it Guerneyville'.}}</ref> many have called the town "Guerneyville"<ref>{{cite book |last= Unzelman |first= Gail |title= Sonoma County Wineries |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=sxphwKNaPbIC&q=Guerneyville&pg=PA82 |access-date= 2013-08-21 |series= Postcard History Series |date= 2006-08-28 |publisher= [[Arcadia Publishing]] |isbn= 9780738546674 |page= 82 |quote= There always have been those who insist on calling the town Guerneyville, as pictured in the above 1909 postcard.}} *{{cite periodical |author=Bob Foster |date=Winter 2007 |title=Book Reports |periodical=Napa Valley Wine Library Report |url=http://www.napawinelibrary.com/reports/2007/winter/book-reviews/}}</ref> in spelling and pronunciation since the 1800s.<ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ZnE4AQAAMAAJ&q=Guerneyville&pg=PA569 |title=Annual Report of the Indiana State Board of Agriculture |access-date=2013-08-21 |volume=30 |year=1889 |publisher=Indiana State Board of Agriculture |page=569 |quote= ... then by rail entered the Sonoma Valley, visiting the redwood regions at and near Guerneyville, returning to Santa Rosa, ...}}</ref> The extensive redwood forests on the surrounding mountains are less than 200 years old, having been replacement plantings for much of the logging done in the 19th century. In the late 19th century, the area became popular with wealthy vacationers from [[San Francisco]] and surrounding communities. The [[San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad]] in 1877 linked the town to the [[ferries of San Francisco Bay]]. Even with the demise of train service in the late 1930s, the area's resorts remained popular with vacationers who came by automobile through the 1950s. A local movie theater, the River, was built near the beach and showed double features throughout the 1950s and 1960s. The advent of jet airplane travel in the 1960s marked a period of decline for many of the older resorts. Winter floods in 1964 caused a further decline in local businesses. A renaissance took place in the late 1970s as numerous gay entrepreneurs from San Francisco identified the area as a prime recreational destination for weekends. Many older resorts benefited from increased tourism, and the town's businesses began to thrive.
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