Pope Valley is an unincorporated community located in the small valley of the same name in the Vaca Mountains and northern Napa County, California.

It is east of Calistoga, north of Angwin, and borders Lake Berryessa, the second largest man-made lake in California. The zip code for Pope Valley is 94567, and the area code 707.

History

Pope Valley is the home of Aetna Springs Resort, a Registered Historic Place. Pope Valley was named after William (Julian) Pope who was granted property in Rancho Locoallomi in 1841 by acting Governor Manuel Jimeno.

Academy Award winning screenwriter and Hollywood film industry pioneer Frances Marion grew up in Pope Valley and used it at the setting for her 1935 book Valley People.

In the summer of 1978, the pre-credits skydiving sequence of Moonraker was filmed above Pope Valley.

On the afternoon of July 1, 2014, a large wildfire started in the Butts Canyon area and eventually burned 4300 acres.

In August 2020, parts of Pope Valley was evacuated due to the Hennessey Fire, which resulted in the burning of over 315,000 acres (492 sq mi) in five counties, including in Pope Valley.

Geography

As of 1881, limestone was being mined in the northern part of Pope Valley.

Demographics

Pope Valley has a population of 583 people, with 6.5 people per square mile. There are 304 males and 279 females residing in Pope Valley and the median age is 43.

Government

In the California State Legislature, Pope Valley is in the 3rd Senate District, represented by Democrat Bill Dodd, and in the 4th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Cecilia Aguiar-Curry.

In the United States House of Representatives, Pope Valley is in California's 5th congressional district, represented by Republican Tom McClintock.