Editing Napa County, California (section)

===Prehistory–18th century===
In [[prehistoric]] times, the valley was inhabited by the [[Patwin]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]]s, with possible habitation by [[Wappo]] tribes in the northwestern foothills. Most villages are thought to have been constructed near the [[floodplain]]s of watercourses that drain the valley. Their food consisted of wild roots, [[acorn]]s, small animals, [[earthworm]]s, [[grasshopper]]s, and bread made from crushed [[California buckeye]] kernels. In winter they would construct huts made of tree branches. In summer they camped near rivers and streams. In winter months, they were half-clad in wild animal skins and at other times they wore no clothing. The maximum prehistoric population is thought not to have exceeded 5000 persons.<ref name="AutoZC-3"/>

In 1776, a fort was erected by the Spanish Governor, [[Felipe de Neve]], a short distance northwest of Napa, on an elevated [[plateau]].<ref name="AutoZC-4"/> Russians from [[Sonoma County]]'s [[Fort Ross]] grazed cattle and sheep in the Napa Valley in the early 19th century and in 1841 a survey party from the fort placed a plaque on the summit of [[Mount Saint Helena]].