Hopland, California  Hopland (formerly Sanel) is a census-designated place in Mendocino County, California. It is located on the west bank of the Russian River south-southeast of Ukiah, in the Sanel Valley, at an elevation of 502 feet (153 m). The population was 756 at the 2010 census. Hopland is a small town of fewer than 800 people located at the start of the Redwoods of Northern California. It is about 90 minutes drive along U.S. Route 101 north of San Francisco, and a 30-minute drive along State Route 175 to California's largest natural lake Clear Lake. It is a rustic farming community situated amongst oak covered coastal foothills. Summer temperatures can exceed . Historic buildings in town include the old Hopland High School (c.1923-1965), currently the Brutocao Cellars tasting room, as well as the Thatcher Hotel, built in the late 1800s and recently reopened after undergoing a complete renovation. Other establishments in Hopland include Cafe Poppy, The Golden Pig, Hopland Tap House, Bluebird Cafe, Brutocao Cellars, Saracina Winery, Campovida Winery and Fetzer Vineyards, a major producer of both red and white wines in North America, including Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Merlot. Approximately east of Hopland is the University of California's Hopland Research and Extension Center (formerly called the "Hopland Field Station"), a research and education facility that UC has operated since 1951. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²), 98.65% of it land, and 1.35% of it water. The settlement that became Hopland was originally called Sanel. Over the years it was centered on either side of the Russian River. Sanel began on the west bank of the river in 1859. In 1874, the town moved to the east bank to be connected to the toll road built to there. When the railroad arrived on the west side of the river, the town moved back to its original site. The Sanel post office opened in 1860, closed for a time in 1869, moved and changed its name to Hopland in 1879, reverted to its original site and name in 1890, and changed its name finally to Hopland in 1891. The town gets its name from the fact that from the 1870s to the mid-1950s, much of the region’s economy was based on the growing and drying of bitter hops, a key flavoring and preservative in beer.