Daily Alta California, Volume 1, Number 103, 29 April 1850
REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE
On the Derivation and Definition
of the Names of the several Counties
of the State of California, &c.
NAPA.— The name of the tribe who occupied the valley of the same name. The meaning of the word is not ascertained. Napa valley is fertile and beautiful in the extreme, possesses a very mild climate, and abounds throughout with timbers of all kinds. The county at the extreme north, contains the highlands of Mayacamas, famous as being the encampment of the Napa tribe, one of the bravest in California.
They greatly harrassed the frontier posts, and were very numerous up to the year 1848, when they were mostly carried off by the small pox.
Napa city, situated on the stream that crosses the valley, will soon be a flourishing town : it is fifteen miles distant from the entrance of Napa bay. The creation of this county is attributable to the constant efforts of Capt. J. Bracket, member of the Assembly from the district of Sonoma.
The writer is impressed with the belief that the subdivision is premature and will affect the interests of the people.