American Canyon

Many visitors passing through American Canyon see the city, located on Napa County’s southern border, as a gateway to the alluring Napa Valley farther to the north.

The local residents see it differently, however.

Never mind that American Canyon sits in an enviable location — just 35 miles north of San Francisco — and never mind that state Route 29 runs through the center of town, offering easy access to both state Route 37 and Interstate 80. And never mind that Napa County Airport is just outside the city limits.

To the locals, American Canyon is an attractive destination all on its own.

The city of 19,000 residents is at the center of the fastest-growing area of Napa County. It is also home to one of the region’s newest schools, American Canyon High School, which opened in 2010 and boasts a 400-seat community theater, as well as a football stadium, baseball and soccer fields, tennis courts, and a swimming pool.

American Canyon itself wasn’t incorporated as a city until 1992, after going by Napa Junction for more than 100 years.

The city has an attractive mix of midcentury homes and newer, more upscale developments.

In May the median sales price for homes was $368,000, up 42 percent from a year earlier, according to MLS data. Homes sold after an average of 48 days on the market, and sellers received an average of 5.4 percent more than their asking prices.

American Canyon offers several shopping centers, including Canyon Plaza, Canyon Corners, and a Walmart Supercenter.

Restaurants popular with local residents include All Spice Indian Restaurant and Mi Zacatecas, both on American Canyon Road, and La Strada, on Broadway Street.

Many visitors passing through American Canyon see the city, located on Napa County’s southern border, as a gateway to the alluring Napa Valley farther to the north.

The local residents see it differently, however.

Never mind that American Canyon sits in an enviable location — just 35 miles north of San Francisco — and never mind that state Route 29 runs through the center of town, offering easy access to both state Route 37 and Interstate 80. And never mind that Napa County Airport is just outside the city limits.

To the locals, American Canyon is an attractive destination all on its own.

The city of 19,000 residents is at the center of the fastest-growing area of Napa County. It is also home to one of the region’s newest schools, American Canyon High School, which opened in 2010 and boasts a 400-seat community theater, as well as a football stadium, baseball and soccer fields, tennis courts, and a swimming pool.

American Canyon itself wasn’t incorporated as a city until 1992, after going by Napa Junction for more than 100 years.

The city has an attractive mix of mid-century homes and newer, more upscale developments.

In May the median sales price for homes was $368,000, up 42 percent from a year earlier, according to MLS data. Homes sold after an average of 48 days on the market, and sellers received an average of 5.4 percent more than their asking prices.

American Canyon offers several shopping centers, including Canyon Plaza, Canyon Corners, and a Walmart Supercenter.

Restaurants popular with local residents include All Spice Indian Restaurant and Mi Zacatecas, both on American Canyon Road, and La Strada, on Broadway Street.

American Canyon is a flat, newly developed city anchoring the southern end of Napa county and boasts a wide range of attractions. Not only is it close to the beautiful vineyards and rolling hills that surround the area, but its most recent upper middle-class makeover has made it a great community to be a part of. With its revamped look comes a plethora of plethora of new and neatly groomed homes, two dozen recreational parks and a conveniently located outlet strip in the heart of the city.

In some respects, American Canyon acts as a gateway to the beautiful vineyards to the north. But locals don’t see it this way. They maintain that this city is one of the best that Napa County has to offer, accommodating an influx of suburban-wealthy families. With it comes plenty of commercial activity, which just so happens to be buzzing around Canyon Plaza and Canyon Corners. The two plazas act as the main shopping hubs for the city, conveniently located in the heart of American Canyon. If you’re hungry, the area also offers a myriad of chain-restaurants and fast food joints. If you just want one store to have everything you need, check out the Walmart Supercenter on the eastern side of Highway 29.

American Canyon continues to blossom with the recent opening of American Canyon High School. The city opened the new school in 2010 and boasts state-of-the-art facilities such as a Performing Arts Center and extensive athletic amenities. The adjoining neighborhood to the west is one of the nicest areas in all of American Canyon to which is now accommodating an influx of upper middle-class residents. Homes around here are packed in neat rows along windy streets. Many of them are new, two-story stucco houses with quaint yards and an attached garage. However, there are a few neighborhoods in the city where old, one-story homes still exist. These communities tend to be randomly sprinkled around American Canyon Community Park. Furthermore, the city provides two mobile home quarters, American Canyon Mobile Home Park and Fairgrounds Mobile Estates and a large number of apartment buildings.

The school system in American Canyon is on the upswing with many of the elementary schools claiming 4-out-of-5 stars on greatschools.org. However, Donaldson Way Elementary looks aesthetically unappealing with its grim lawns and shabby facilities. Children and young teenagers, always seem to venture to the nearby skate park.

Napa County Airport, which straddles the northern border, is one of the biggest perks the community has to offer. Moreover, major highways include Highway 12, which runs east and west, and Highway 29, which ventures north and south connecting many of the locals to the beautiful vineyards.