Santa Rosa is the county seat and largest city of Sonoma County, California, in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. Set along U.S. Route 101 about fifty-five miles north of San Francisco, it is the largest city in California's Wine Country and the Redwood Coast, with roughly 178,000 residents. Santa Rosa anchors the county as its government, healthcare, retail, and cultural hub. The city's history runs deep. It was founded in 1833 by Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo and named for St. Rose of Lima, then grew into the seat of Sonoma County in 1854 and an incorporated city in 1867. By 1870 it was the eighth-largest city in California. The Northwestern Pacific Railroad's arrival in 1871 shaped the downtown, particularly the Railroad Square district that still stands as the city's historic core. Modern Santa Rosa's economy is diverse. Wine and food anchor its identity — it sits at the crossroads of the Russian River Valley, Dry Creek, and Sonoma Valley appellations — while healthcare is a major employer through the county's three hospitals. The city is also the adopted home of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, whose museum draws visitors from around the world. Santa Rosa City Schools, the largest district in Sonoma County, serves nearly 16,000 students across two dozen schools. Transportation has been reshaped by SMART, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit system, which runs from Santa Rosa and the Sonoma County Airport south through Petaluma and Novato toward Larkspur and its ferry connection to San Francisco. Highway 101 remains the principal auto corridor for commuters to the Bay Area. Recreation is a defining feature: Trione-Annadel State Park and the Santa Rosa Creek Trail offer hiking, biking, and open space within the city, while the Russian River, the Sonoma Coast, and the redwoods lie within easy reach. Santa Rosa suits people who want Wine Country living with a genuine city's jobs, schools, and services.