Why you'd want to live in Windsor

One of the stars in Sonoma County’s lovely constellation is the town of Windsor, just off Hwy 101 north of Santa Rosa. With a population of 24,000 and growing, this town is blooming. Beginning in the 1850s as rural farming community, settlers came from all over the United States, as well as Scotland, Ireland, England, Germany and France for the natural beauty and rich farmland of this warm Northern California spot. With an emphasis on smart growth, the Town of Windsor has overseen a dramatic re-invigoration with a meticulously developed, beautifully landscaped Town Green, complete with outdoor stage, fountain and play structure. An infusion of candy shops, local novelty stores, toy stores, wine shops, restaurants, fine jewelry stores and clothing boutiques have added to its charm. Windsor’s reputation as an epicenter of smart growth is relatively new in the last decade. Its downtown core was revitalized through a partnership with private developers, resulting in a charming mixed-use development offering pedestrian-friendly and bike-friendly access to local schools, library, gymnasium, shopping, restaurants and Windsor’s bustling four-acre Town Green. The architecture is a mixture of New-Age urban design and a recreation of the historic look and feel of Old Downtown Windsor, with smart, comfortable town homes built right above lovely little retail shops. In 2006, the Sierra Club named Windsor’s Town Green Village a “Top Smart Growth Project.” Windsor is also home to the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic, a breathtaking mid-summer celebration of balloon flight that draws balloonists and spectators from all across the U.S. via 101 Things to Do