Mill Valley
Did you know…In July of 2005, CNN/Money and Money magazine ranked Mill Valley tenth on its list of the 100 Best Places to Live in the United States.
A little bit of History about Mill Valley, CA
The city is named for a saw mill established by John Reed in the 19th century, the site of which is now Old Mill Park. When the wooded area had been completely logged over, it was divided into small and irregular building lots, which were sold at auction. Many of the vacation homes built at that time were converted to residences during the Great Depression of the 1930s, especially after the Golden Gate Bridge eased access to San Francisco. It is now an affluent residential suburb, much of which is reached by narrow, winding roads built in the early 20th century.
From 1896 to 1930, the Mt. Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railroad ran service from Mill Valley to the summit of Mt Tamalpais. The 8.25 mile long line had 22 trestles and 281 curves earning it the nickname “The Crookedest Railroad in the World”.
The city’s public library is located in Old Mill Park, and is generally considered to be one of the most scenic libraries in the Bay Area with its heavily wooded surroundings, which patrons can enjoy a view of through the large windows, and its wood-burning fireplace and deck overlooking the park and Old Mill Creek.
Mill Valley Climate
Mill Valley has a mild “Mediterranean” climate. In the winter, daytime highs consistently range between 52 and 60 degrees. Nighttime temperatures in winter rarely drop below 38 degrees. There is abundant rainfall (sometimes 15 inches per month) in the winter, and some rain in early spring and late fall. Summer temperatures vary much more than those of the winter. A majority of the time there is abundant sunshine with temperatures between 75 and 90 degrees, and humidity between 20 and 40 percent. Fog from the coast can bring cool summer weather, with midday temperatures often not exceeding 65 degrees. Nighttime temperatures in summertime seldom drop below 60 degrees. Summer evenings can be breezy, with warm East winds, and it is not uncommon for there to be no rainfall beween mid-June and mid-October; however, dew can often be found on plants in the early morning. Northern California’s mild summers make it so few residents have air conditioning in their homes. May through October are considered “fire season,” because most grasses that rely on rain die when the rain ceases in May. The grasses become dry and extremely flammable, and local fire agencies prohibit most kinds of outdoor burning, fireworks, and barbecues.
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