Duncans Mills, California
Duncans Mills is an unincorporated community located in Sonoma County, California.
History
Duncans Mills was once part of the Rancho Muniz Mexican land grant.In 1877, Alexander Duncan established a sawmill in what is today Duncans Mills. The mills sent lumber to the growing city of San Francisco.
The town was founded in the 1870s. It featured two hotels, a general store, a saloon, a meat market, blacksmith, livery stable, and a notion shop.
Starting in the 1870s, the narrow-gauge North Pacific Coast Railroad ran through Duncans Mills on its way from Cazadero, California, to Sausalito. After being sold several times, the railroad ceased operation in the 1930s. The town slowly faded, until a 1976 restoration project, associated with the celebration of the U.S. Bicentennial, brought about a period of building restoration and business re-vitalization.
Today, Duncans Mills resembles the way it was originally built. It has an authentic North Pacific Coast Railroad Depot and several original cars from the old railroad line. A California State Park Sector Office is located in a building constructed to look like an original fixture of the town, but was actually part of the 1976 revitalization. The Blue Heron Restaurant has served as the destination entertainment center of the town for decades.
Geography
Duncans Mills is located on the Russian River about from the Pacific Ocean. It straddles State Route 116.Climate
The record high was on July 14, 1972, and the record low was on December 23, 1990.