Editing Novato, California (section)

==History==
What is now Novato was originally the site of several [[Coast Miwok]] villages: Chokecherry, near downtown Novato; Puyuku, near [[Ignacio, California|Ignacio]]; and Olómpali, at the present-day [[Olompali State Historic Park]].<ref>Peterson, Bonnie J. (1976). ''Dawn of the World: Coast Miwok Myths''. {{ISBN|0-912908-04-1}}</ref>

===Mexican era===
[[File:Olompali State Park Burdell Barn 9 30 2012 (4).JPG|thumb|left|[[Rancho Olómpali]] was granted in 1834 by Governor [[Manuel Micheltorena]] to [[Miwok]] ranchero [[Camilo Ynitia]].]]
In 1839, the Mexican government granted the {{convert|8876|acre|km2|adj=on}} [[Rancho Novato]] to Fernando Feliz. The rancho was named after a local Miwok leader who had probably been given the name of Saint [[Novatus]] at his baptism.<ref>{{cite book|author=Bright, William (1998) |title=1500 California Place Names |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-21271-8|date=November 30, 1998 }}</ref> Subsequently, four additional [[land grant]]s were made in the area: [[Rancho Corte Madera de Novato]], to John Martin in 1839; [[Rancho San Jose (Pacheco)|Rancho San Jose]], to Ignacio Pacheco in 1840; [[Rancho Olómpali]], awarded in 1843 to [[Camilo Ynitia]], son of a [[Coast Miwok]] chief; and [[Rancho Nicasio]], by far the largest at {{convert|56621|acre|km2|1}}, awarded to [[Pablo de la Guerra]] and [[John B.R. Cooper]] in 1844.<ref>[http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/lb/main/crm/maps/MarinRanchosMap.swf Marin County Ranchos] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114181514/http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/lb/main/crm/maps/MarinRanchosMap.swf |date=November 14, 2008 }}</ref>

===Post-Conquest era===
Following the American [[Conquest of California]] and the [[Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo]], Novato, along with the rest of California, became part of the United States on February 2, 1848. Early pioneers included Joseph Sweetser and Francis De Long who bought {{convert|15000|acre|km2|0}} in the mid-1850s and planted orchards and vineyards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.novatohistory.org/novato-1839-1900-land-grants-and-farming/|title=Novato 1838-1899: Land Grants and Farming {{!}} NOVATO HISTORICAL GUILD|access-date=November 12, 2019}}</ref>

The first post office at Novato opened in 1856; it closed in 1860, and a new post office opened in 1891.<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|673}}</ref>

The first school was built in 1859, at the corner of Grant Avenue and what is today Redwood Boulevard.
[[File:Hamilton Field, CA Squad Barracks 5 AUG 1936 (2825155892).jpg|thumb|left|[[California Churrigueresque]] architecture at [[Hamilton Army Airfield|Hamilton Airfield]], 1936]]
The original town was located around [[Novato Creek]] at what is now South Novato Boulevard. A railroad was built in 1879, connecting Novato to [[Sonoma County, California|Sonoma County]] and [[San Rafael, California|San Rafael]]. The area around the train depot became known as ''New Town'', and forms the edge of what today is Old Town Novato. The [[Novato Flatiron Building]] was built in 1908.

===Modern era===
The [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]] of the 1930s had a marked effect on the area, as many farmers lost their land. After [[World War II]], Novato grew quickly with the construction of tract homes and a freeway. As the area was unincorporated, much of the growth was unplanned and uncontrolled.

Novato was finally [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] as a city in 1960.<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofnovato.org/prcs/museum.cfm|title=Early Novato Area History|access-date=December 6, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123040711/http://www.cityofnovato.org/prcs/museum.cfm|archive-date=November 23, 2007}}</ref> One of the most important events of the time (1960 to 1965) was "Western Weekend". Beard-growing contests, sponsored by Bob's Barber Shop, and many other odd activities helped to bring this community together.