Novato is in northern Marin and about 30 miles outside of San Francisco. It covers twenty-eight square miles. Novato was first established in 1839 when the Mexican government granted Rancho Novato, consisting of some 8,876 acres to Fernando Feliz. Novato, along with the rest of California, became part of the United States on February 2, 1848. Early pioneers included Joseph Sweetser and Francis De Long who bought 15,000 acres in the mid-1850s and planted orchards and vineyards. Novato was incorporated as a city in 1960. The original town was located around Novato Creek at what is now South Novato Boulevard. A railroad was built in 1879, connecting Novato to Sonoma County and San Rafael. The area around the train depot became known as New Town, and forms the edge of what today is Old Town Novato. The current depot was built in 1917, but closed in 1959 and is largely derelict. The depot consisted of two buildings, a warehouse and a station. The warehouse burned twice in the intervening years and was torn down in late 2007 to make way for a Whole Foods development, while the station is still standing.
Novato has a rural atmosphere largely because of its low population density and the high amount of open space and parks in and near the city. Novato's population density is about one-half that of San Rafael, and is nearly one-third that of Petaluma and Vallejo. There is an active retail area in downtown Novato with shops and restaurants as well as other shopping areas located throughout the city.
Novato's sphere of influence contains seven county-maintained open space preserves with more than 2,600 acres of open space-including 1,600 acres surrounding Mt. Burdell in Northern Novato. Including Olompali State Park, just north of Novato, the total is nearly 3,500 acres. The city itself is home to a total of twenty-seven parks, including three major city parks. The North Marin Water District also maintains an open space preserve near Loma Verda.
City Hall:
415-899-8900
Building Inspection: 415- 899-8240
Garbage (Novato Disposal Service): 415- 897-4177
Parks and Recreation: 415-899-8200
Planning: 415- 899-8989
Police - Main Number/non-emergencies: 415- 897-4361
Public Works: 415- 899-8246
Sewer Service (Novato Sanitary District): 415- 892-1694
Water (North Marin Water District): 415- 897-4133
