Napa Valley has long been known for its excellent vineyards and wineries. It had achieved such success in the industry that it ranked equally with French wines several decades ago when two local wines won the “Judgment of Paris” in 1976. The county seat is Napa, and it was one of the original counties created in 1850 when California gained its statehood.
The county is located in the northern part of the state and was inhabited in prehistoric times by the Patwin Native Americans. The first Europeans arrived in 1823 when Francis Castro and Father Jose Altimura came to explore the valley. The early white settlers who arrived several years later were confronted with six separate tribes, each with its own dialect, who were frequently at war with one another. However, their numbers were diminished by a smallpox epidemic in 1838.
Today, the county is not heavily populated, given that it is taken up primarily with vineyards and other agricultural enterprises. The last census shows the population as just around 138,000 people. Napa County has numerous resources to serve its residents, for children and families and adults and seniors, and maintains an active calendar of events.
There are two airports in the county. One is a general aviation facility south of the City of Napa for private aircraft, the other is for public use and located east of Angwin. There is also a Napa Valley Wine Train that offers a variety of packages, including wine tasting and dinner.