Fort Ross (Russian: Форт-Росс, romanized: Fort-Ross, крепость Росс, krepost' Ross, Kashaya: Metini) is a former Russian establishment on the west coast of North America in what is now Sonoma County, California.

Russian colonial possessions in the Americas were collectively known as Russian America (Russian: Русская Америка, romanized: Russkaya Amerika; 1799 to 1867). It consisted mostly of present-day Alaska in the United States, but also included the outpost of Fort Ross in California.

Discover Top 89 Cities with the Highest Percentage of Russian Population in California in 2025.

Aug 29, 2020 · From Sacramento to Los Angeles, Spain’s colonial fingerprints are plain to see throughout present-day California. But did you know that in the 18th century, Tsarist Russia carved out her own slice...

Jul 5, 2012 · A piece of history on the Pacific Coast was almost lost to budget cuts, until a Russian billionaire stepped in to save the endangered state park

This commercial company chartered by Russia's tsarist government controlled all Russian exploration, trade and settlement in the North Pacific, and established permanent settlements in Alaska and California.

Nov 26, 2024 · California's Russian connection offers a fascinating glimpse into a lesser-known part of the state's history. From the historic Fort Ross to the vibrant Russian communities in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, these ties have shaped cultural and social landscapes.

A Russian California would bar the advance of the Spanish American Empire, and might even push it back to the isthmus of Panama. To forestall the Russians, therefore, Spain moved into California and founded her first colony at San Diego in 1769.

The first steps toward Russian colonization of California were taken in 1578, when an outlaw band of Cossacks crossed the Ural Mountains and conquered the Tartars of central Russia. After that the lure of furs, riches, and glory continued to propel these …

Oct 13, 2024 · The Russians established their outpost of Fort Ross in 1812 near Bodega Bay in Northern California, north of San Francisco Bay. The Fort Ross colony included a sealing station on the Farallon Islands off San Francisco.