Which Marin County town is named for the angel of bodily healing?

The name of this prominent Marin County city traces back to one of the seven archangels. Raphael, whose name in Hebrew translates to "God has healed," is revered in several religious traditions as a powerful divine healer. He is prominently featured in the Old Testament's Book of Tobit, where he guides the young Tobias and restores his father's sight. Because of these stories, Saint Raphael became the patron saint of the sick, of doctors, and of travelers, making his name synonymous with physical well-being and restoration.

This direct association with healing is precisely why the name was chosen for the area. In 1817, Spanish missionaries established a medical outpost, or "asistencia," to treat the ailing Native American population from San Francisco's Mission Dolores. The damp, foggy climate of San Francisco was causing widespread illness, and the sunnier, warmer location across the bay was seen as a place of recuperation.

Given its express purpose as a hospital mission, the outpost was fittingly dedicated to the archangel of healing and named Mission San Rafael Arcángel. Over time, a community grew around this center for recovery, which eventually developed into the bustling city that today serves as the county seat of Marin, forever carrying the name of the celestial figure of healing.