This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: jeremy5848 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.sonoma/6164.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: "Ocean" was a township on the Pacific coast of Sonoma County. Bodega Bay (called just "Bay" at that time) was (and still is) the largest village. Monte Rio was (and still is) a village on the Russian River, which flows west into the Pacific. [A township is a legal subdivision of a county, just as a county is a legal subdivision of a state.] Bodega Bay is not at the mouth of the Russian River (that honor belongs to Jenner-by-the-Sea) but rather some miles south. Bodega Bay was first discovered by the Spanish explorer Bodega y Quadra and later colonized by the Russians at Fort Ross, who used the bay, which they named "Rumiantsev," as their port, since the Fort Ross area to the north had no good harbor. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.