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Occidental is a small town nestled in the redwoods of Sonoma County between Freestone and Monte Rio in Northern California. It is approximately 68 miles north of San Francisco, 117 miles from Sacramento and 113 miles from San Jose. As of the 2000 census, the population was 1,272.

Occidental is a pretty little community with a two-block-long main street and plenty of charm. It's just minutes from the spectacular Sonoma Coast, world class wineries, the Russian River recreational area, the Armstrong Redwood Reserve and numerous picturesque coastal towns, such as Jenner-by-the-Sea.

 The village of Occidental began as a commercial center and the last stop on the North Pacific Coast Railroad, which connected Cazadero to the Sausalito ferry in the San Francisco Bay area. In return for donating right-of-way to the railroad, a local landowner named “Dutch Bill” Howards received a lifetime pass and a station was named after him. The railway caused rapid expansion in the area, especially in the timber industry and by 1877 there were six sawmills in the Occidental region. Soon, the trains also brought vacationers looking to escape the summer fog in San Francisco or the heat in Sacramento. A few years later, two Italian restaurants were opened in the town and they are still in business today.