City of Paso Robles Overview

Technically, this Central Coast city’s official name is El Paso de Robles—a name that fits given the robles (oaks) that line this area sandwiched between the Salinas River and the inland foothills of the Santa Lucia Coastal Mountain Range, but it’s usually just called Paso by the oenophiles drawn to this wine mecca. It’s also home to the California Mid-State Fair—which, in addition to showcasing the region’s agricultural bounty, is also a magnet for musical acts.

Vineyards were first planted back in the Mission era, and commercial winemaking was introduced in 1882 by Andrew York, founder of Ascension Winery (later York Mountain and now Epoch). The city center is graced by a statue of another famed vintner, Polish pianist and statesman Ignacy Jan Paderewski, who visited Paso for the hot springs and stayed to plant zinfandel on his 2,000-acre Rancho San Ignacio.

Incorporated in 1889 (three years after railroad service arrived), Paso Robles is a general law city with a “council-manager” form of government. The city manager, appointed by the City Council, functions as the chief executive officer of the municipal corporation, directing the activities of all city departments. An appointed member of the city staff, the city clerk coordinates the preparation and distribution of council agendas, certifies actions taken by the council, and maintains all city records and documents.