FAIRFAX, CA
A bit of History
Fairfax was originally part of a Spanish land grant conferred to Domingo Sais in 1839. Sais gave the area now known as the Marin Town & Country Club to Marin County's first physician, Alfred Taliaferro of Virginia, who subsequently passed the property along to fellow Virginian Charles Snowden Fairfax. Lord Fairfax, tenth Baron of Cameron, Scotland, moved here with his wife Ada in 1855, lured west by gold fever.
After the death of Charles Fairfax, the property changed hands, eventually becoming the site of the renowned Pastori's Restaurant in the 1890's. Madame Pastori, once a singer at the La Scala in Milan, Italy, was visited in Fairfax by many great figures in the opera world. The restaurant, which was rebuilt on a grander scale after a fire in 1911, still stands.
Convenient railroad service early in this century made Fairfax a favorite weekend and summer retreat for city dwellers. Fairfax Park hosted thousands on weekends. Fairfax was the setting for dozens of early Western movies from 1910 to the early 1920's. Construction of Alpine Dam in 1917 brought a large Italian population to the area, adding to Fairfax's colorful history.
Fairfax came of age in February of 1931 when the town was incorporated as a city with a five-member council government. Fairfax today, with a diverse population of 7,000, is a community of fine neighborhoods nestled in the hills and small valleys of the Upper Ross Valley. Located 16 miles north of San Francisco, within easy reach of numerous State and National Recreation Areas, Fairfax offers the best of both work and play while retaining its small-town atmosphere and charm.
Fairfax Lifestyle:
In a world shifting towards McMansions, Strip Malls, and architectural and suburban monotony, Fairfax is both figuratively and literally a breath of fresh air. In the forested hills 16 miles north of San Francisco, Fairfax offers the best balance of work and play, while retaining its small town atmosphere, charm, and identity.
The seasonal (June-September) Farmer’s Market is held each Wednesday evening in the Fairfax Park and is a gathering place for the entire community. Locally owned independent businesses, restaurants, cafes and nightclubs offer shopping and nightlife options comparable to no other town, regardless of size. Couple that with award winning schools, it’s no surprise that San Francisco Magazine chose Fairfax among the Top 10 of the Bay Area’s 107 towns.
The countless miles of protected open space surrounding the town not only provide a beautiful backdrop for the town, but also provide the ultimate outdoorsman’s playground. There are simply more trails and open space than time in the day. Visitors of all ages come to Fairfax throughout the year to enjoy the wonderful climate and to explore the region on foot, horse and bicycle.
Many world renowned musicians call Fairfax home, and with 30 plus years of consecutive live music every night, Fairfax’s multiple venues offer a unique setting for local and national touring musicians to jam in a relaxed at home environment. And with over 20 restaurants and cafés, independent book stores, clothing, and gifts, there really is Fairfax variety, offering something for everybody.
Fairfax Chamber of Commerce
415-453-5928
http://www.fairfaxcoc.com/
Lodging choices in Fairfax:
Bed & Breakfast