Novato

Thanks to mild weather and a proximity to San Pablo Bay, Novato became a thriving agricultural town on the site of several Mexican land grants. Once hosting huge orchards, today's Novato boasts international companies and extensive housing developments, yet it retains a small-town character. Working with the Novato Historical Guild and the archives of the Novato History Museum, photographer Ron Vela has documented this city's transition from ranch beginnings to modern suburban community.