The City of Novato, one of the Bay Area's premier communities, is located in Marin County 29 miles north of San Francisco. Novato is the second largest city in the county, with a population of about 47,000. Novato's sphere of influence includes nearby unincorporated areas. With this additional area, Novato totals 43 square miles and a population of 53,000.

Novato, California is the northernmost city in Marin County, approximately twenty-nine miles north of San Francisco and thirty-seven miles northwest of Oakland.  Novato covers twenty-eight square miles. As of the 2000 Census, Novato has a population of 47,630 which is 76.3% White, 13.1% Hispanic, 5.1% Asian, 1.9% Black and 3.6% all other races. The State of California estimates Novato's population at 48,754 as of January 1, 2002.

The City of Novato was incorporated on January 20, 1960 as a general law city.  The City Council is made up of five members, elected at large, serving four-year terms.  The Mayor is selected for a one-year term from among the members of the City Council.  The City operates under a council-manager form of government.  The City Council appoints the City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk.

The City of Novato delivers municipal services through six departments: Central Administration (City Manager, City Clerk, City Attorney, Redevelopment, Housing Services), Administrative Services (Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology), Community Development (Planning and Building), Police, Public Works (Engineering, Street and Park Maintenance), and Parks, Recreation and Community Services.  Fire services are provided in Novato by the Novato Fire Protection District; refuse and recycling services are provided by Novato Disposal under a franchise agreement with the Novato Sanitary District. Waste water services are provided by the Novato Sanitary District; water services by the North Marin Water District; public transit services by the Golden Gate Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, animal control services by the Marin Humane Society; and library services by the Marin County Free Library.

Gas and electric services are provided in Novato by Gas and Electric.  Telephone service in Novato is provided by Verizon in the northern and central sections of Novato and by Pacific Bell in the southern section.  Cable television service is provided by AT&T Cable throughout Novato and by Horizon Cable TV Inc. in properties associated with Hamilton Field.

The Novato Unified School District serves over 7,600 students in kindergarten through high school in nine elementary, three middle and three high schools.

The College of Marin serves 8,800 students at two campuses: one in Kentfield and their Indian Valley Campus in Novato.  The college offers 55 Associates of Arts/Science degree programs.

The Buck Institute is one of the foremost non-profit, independent biomedical research institutes in the world.

The City of Novato successfully mixes corporate headquarters, state-of-the art technology companies and a variety of retail centers in its business community.

Fireman's Fund Insurance Company is the City's (and Marin County's) largest employer with 2,400 employees.  Founded in 1863, Fireman's Fund has been providing premier business and personal insurance for over 135 years. 

In addition to Fireman's Fund, Novato is the corporate headquarters for footwear company Birkenstock Footprint Sandals, and Smith and Hawken, the nation's premier retailer for gardening enthusiasts.

Novato is also a center of technology businesses as well.  Known as the "home of the CD-ROM", Novato is home to such computer software and telecommunications companies as Broderbund, IMSI, Inc. and Sonic Solutions.

Retail businesses in Novato take many forms.  The Vintage Oaks Shopping Center is a regional mall that serves as home to Costco, Target, Macy's Furniture Center, Novato Toyota and Silveira Pontiac Buick GMC of Novato.  

There is an active retail area in downtown Novato with shops and restaurants as well as other shopping areas located throughout the City.  Novato is also home to TravelSmith, a successful company that sells travel clothing and accessories throughout the world through its catalogue business and on the Internet.

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.

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.

Major community events include the Novato Festival of Art, Wine and Music each June, Concerts in the Park throughout the summer, the annual 4th of July Parade in downtown Novato and the City's Labor Day Picnic at Stafford Lake.

Learn more about this city

City of NOVATO, CA official site

County of MARIN, CA official site

City of NOVATO, CA chamber of commerce

City of NOVATO, CA general information

City of NOVATO, CA yellow pages

City of NOVATO, CA newspaper

State of California official site