| Napa has been an agricultural area for decades, with its warm sunny climate and cool bay breeze every evening both prunes and grapes and oranges have thrived here over the years. Olives are becoming popular as well. The town of Napa was once blue collar, with many folks who work in the wine industry upvalley settling down in the town. Over the past 10 years, officials have worked on Napa’s image, here and abroad. Now, the once affordable town in northern California now sells starter homes for $500,000, and upvalley is even more pricey. Napa’s muddy river winds its way through town, and floods often during winter when sandbags lining downtown businesses is not an uncommon sight. The New Years Eve flood of 2006 was the worst in 20 years, despite millions spent on a gigantic flood control project, which includes new bridges, river widening and channel deepening. |
| Napa is blessed with sunny skies most of the time May through October. The hottest time of year is Indian Summer, Septmber through October. The winter is mild and rainy, and the breeze from the San Francisco Bay cools down everything in its path each evening all year long. |
| Napa is nestled in between the Mayacamas mountains in the east and the Vaca mountinas to the east. The valley floor is rich with volcanic soil, and to the north is Mt. St. Helens. Vineyards grow pretty much everywhere; flats, hills, mountaintops, etc. The Napa River cuts through the valley starting north of Calistoga, and winds its way to the San Pablo Bay getting bigger and bigger as it gets more south. It's polluted and muddy, mainly from agriculture through the valley. |
Many Napans make their money from the wine industry; from being a wine maker, a tour guide, working in the tasting room or the hundreds of migrant workers who come up seasonally to pick grapes. Napa is also home to many who commute to Vallejo, San Francisco, Santa Rosa and other large towns nearby. Mare Island Naval Base in Vallejo closed in the early 1990's, forcing many people who commuted from Napa t find work elsewhere, or move. |
| There are a few types of people in Napa- the wine crowd, which tends to be upper middle class, and educated. Then there are those who were raised in the small blue collar town. Many who were raised in Napa never left, it's both a place where people flock to, and one where the locals stay. On the streets, it's common to see a large Mexican presence, with low rider bikes, and cars. Most are proud of their heritage and aren't afraid to show it off. The social scene is such that many young single folks choose to get outta town when they want to party, choosing Santa Rosa, Sonoma or San Francisco. It's these reasons and the city's tough noise and occupancy regulations that keep Napa clean for the tourists, and somewhat of a pain for the locals. There are areas though, a few watering holes in the north part of town attract country kids from Lake County to the North, and cowboy hats and big trucks can often be spotted in these establishments. |
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