Napa Apartments and Rentals

You don't have to be a wino to know that Napa Valley, Calif., is home of some of America's best vineyards. However, aside from the grapes, there are plenty of reasons to look for Napa apartments for rent. The city's rich history includes a role in the California Gold Rush, but today it is known more for its fine food, luxury hotels and tourism industry. Of course, the vineyards and world-class wineries of Napa Valley that surround the city don't hurt the local economy either.

Tourism aside, residents of Napa enjoy a vibrant, modern community in a city with serious respect for its past. The city boasts some of California's finest Victorian homes, and residents enjoy "Restaurant Row" in the historic downtown district. Contemporary architecture mixes with the old in the safe and comfortable neighborhoods that make Napa a perfect place to raise a family.

Although now famous for its wine, Napa Valley was once a major location for Gold Rush settlers, like many northern California cities. The city's founding is credited to Nathan Coombs, who laid out the town site of Napa City in 1847. The original population of the town was made up of European and Asian settlers, in addition to Native Americans who had long called the valley home. The city was a welcoming refuge for gold miners in the winter, and its first building was a saloon near the Napa River, which winds through the city. Napa continued to grow thanks to the river, which brought steamboats from San Francisco, and the Napa Valley Railroad, which was developed in the 1860s.

By the 1870s, Napa had a population of about 7,000 people, which has now grown to more than 76,915. The city's initially blue-collar industrial economy has largely changed over, and is now based mainly on the thriving tourism industry that centers around the city's role as county seat for one of the world's Great Wine Capitals.

Nearby wineries and vineyards employ a great deal of Napa's largest employers, with nearly 1,200 workers. However, the city's hospitals - Napa State Hospital and Queen of the Valley Medical Center - are the top employers. Resorts and other tourist attractions are also major employers, in addition to the school districts and local government.

Families looking for Napa apartments for rent will find many schools that suit their children's needs through the Napa Valley Unified School District, which has more than 30 institutions. Those coming to Napa for higher education opportunities can enjoy Pacific Union College, ranked Newsweek's 2012 "Most Beautiful College" in the nation. This fully accredited Seventh-day Adventist Christian liberal arts college has about 1,500 students and offers 34 majors. Nearby Napa Valley College is part of the California Community College System, offering a wide range of associate's degrees.

Napa hosts a number of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own unique character, meaning anyone looking for Napa rentals can find something to suit their style. In the "old town," renters can find fully-restored Victorian homes on tree-lined streets, while to the north, residents live mostly in 1960s-style subdivisions such as Bel Aire and Springwood. To the west is Browns Valley, an eclectic mix of housing styles, and luxury residences are available downtown along the river. According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, the median gross rent in Napa was $1,146 in 2010, representing a large range of apartments in a variety of neighborhoods. The average income in 2009 was about $65,309, which is higher than California's average.

If you love wine, you will have no problem finding things to do in and around Napa. Whether enjoying the fine food and wine offered in downtown's "Restaurant Row," which encompasses a range of cuisines from Japanese to Mexican, or touring the award-winning vineyards nearby, residents who love to wine and dine seldom have trouble finding something to suit their needs.

Although Napa Valley has been named the Great Wine Capital of North America through the Great Wine Capitals Global Network, there is even more to love about this city when it comes to culture, entertainment and outdoor recreational activities. The downtown area is the hub of arts and culture, with beautiful theaters, music conservatories and the Napa Valley Opera House that continually offer live entertainment.

The river is responsible for much of the development of the city, but also provides residents with a scenic escape from urban life. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy the Napa River Trail, which winds around the river, providing a backbone to the Napa River Parkway, where hikers, joggers, fishermen, boaters, bikers and wildlife observers come together to enjoy the great outdoors.

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