History of Alamo

If you are interested in the history of home prices since 1983 in Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, San Ramon and Walnut Creek, California visit my History of Home Prices page.

The first people have lived in this area for over 5,000 years. The Tatcan Indians, a Bay Miwok tribe closely connected to the Saclans of Walnut Creek, lived in Alamo in the eighteenth century. (Show Alamo Map)

After Mission San Jose was founded in 1797, its grazing area stretched throughout the San Ramon Valley.

A Mexican land grant, called the San Ramon Rancho, was deeded to Mariano Castro and his uncle Bartolo Pacheco in 1833. It covered today's Danville and Alamo. Castro owned the northern half which included Alamo.

In 1843 much of Alamo, Las Trampas and Tice Valley was granted to brothers Inocencio and Jose Romero. It was called Rancho El Sobrante de San Ramon. Because of missing title papers, the brothers lost their ranch in American courts in 1857.

An American Village

Pioneers Mary Ann and John Jones traveled through Alamo in 1847. she provided the earliest English description of the area in her diary. Her husband stopped the wagon saying, "Mary, look! Did you ever see anything so beautiful?" She wrote later:

On every side, the valley and surrounding hills were covered with thick, velvety clover, and with wild oats standing waist high waving and rippling in the summer breeze, like the bosom of a lake.

The Jones family returned to Alamo in 1851, after California had become a state. John became the first postmaster in 1852 and she applied her considerable energies to schooling children and beginning a Cumberland Presbyterian church. Other early Alamo founders included David Glass, George Engelmeyer, Silas and Susanna Stone, Captain Wall, Joshua Bollinger and James Foster.

The area was named Alamo which means poplar or cottonwood tree in Spanish. Because of its location and fine weather, Alamo grew early. An early road from the redwoods near Moraga ran through Tice Valley to Alamo since Americans preferred redwood for building materials rather Mexican adobe brick.

The Hemme, Bollinger, Jones and Stone ranches began by grazing cattle and raising wheat and other grains. In 1891 the Hemme train station was placed near today's Hemme Avenue; later it was re-named the Alamo station.

Eventually orchards and vineyards spread across the areas. Almonds, walnut , many kinds of fruits (including grapes) thrived in the mild climate. In 1873 Alamo pioneer Myron Hall grafted Persian cuttings to native walnut trees and helped start the prosperous walnut industry in Contra Costa County. His "mother tree" was tended for over 100 years.

The Alamo post office is the oldest continuous one in the valley It was always an important community gathering place. According to longtime Postmistress Bertha Linhares, when the mail was expected the men…

sat in the post office-store in the winter … the women went into our sitting room and visited with my mother … We always heard all the news and troubles of the Alamo residents.

Her father, brother and sister were also postmasters from 1905 to 1960.

Alamo in Modern Times

During World War II an Alamo air watch tower was built by the community. People volunteered, looking for Japanese war planes round the clock from 1942 to 1945. San Ramon Valley's population totaled 2,126 at that time.

The Alamo Improvement Association (AIA) began in 1953. For 50 years its purpose has been to advance and improve the welfare of properties in Alamo and to preserve the established character of Alamo as an agricultural and semi-rural residential area.

After the war hundreds, then thousands, of new people arrived. Round Hill Country Club opened in 1960 on land which formerly belonged to the Mott sisters and Grover Squire. The freeway was completed through Alamo in 1964.

Rapid valley growth fueled controversies, some of which focused on the philosophy of a new Superintendent of Schools in the sixties. Debates about the pace of development led to several votes on cityhood, spearheaded by residents who wanted more local control. An Alamo-Danville incorporation election in 1964 lost 2,086 to 1,958 with "loss of identity for Alamo" a main concern.

Today Alamo is an enclave of green with many one-half acre lot homes between Walnut Creek and Danville. Its population in 2000 was 15,625. It is governed by the County Board of Supervisors, with the AIA and several active county service areas advising on police, landscape and park issues.

Alamo residents take pride in the same natural beauty which appealed to the pioneers 150 years ago.

History section by Beverly Lane with the help of Betty Dunlap, Irma Dotson and Virgie V. Jones. Underwritten by the J. M. Long Foundation. Courtesy of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley

Parks

Andrew H. Young Park is located at the corner of Danville Blvd. & Jackson Way. This one-acre park is named in memory of Alamo resident Andrew H. Young who was instrumental in preserving the charm of Alamo.

Livorna Park is at the corner of Livorna Road & Miranda Avenue. It features a large open-air gazebo, a sand volleyball court, a multi-use sports court, playground structures, large play areas, drinking fountain, restrooms and off-street parking.

Rancho Romero School Sports Field on Hemme Avenue has soccer and softball fields, and play structures.

Alamo School Sports Field located at 100 Wilson Road offers soccer and baseball fields, batting cages, and a picnic and BBQ area.

Hap Magee Ranch Park is on the Alamo-Danville Border on La Gonda Way. This park has several historic structures. There are picnic facilities, children's water play area, a large meadow with a spectacular heritage oak, dog parks and off-street parking. The park sits near the intersection of the Iron Horse Trail and the Las Trampas to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail.

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Round Hill Country Club - Alamo California

Round Hill Country Club (Show Map), was originally founded in 1959 as a combination golf course and luxury housing community. The course was opened in fall of 1960, followed by the clubhouse, tennis facility and pool in 1961. Round Hill, a private club, offers full service catering facilities to both Members and outside clients.

In August of 1996, Round Hill Country Club opened our 48,000 square foot clubhouse – the ultimate setting to entertain family, guests and clients. From an intimate dinner for two to a gala banquet for 400, Round Hill offers the same impeccable service and fine food that has satisfied our discriminating Membership for over 40 years.

Round Hill's newly remodeled championship par-72 course, spread over the gently rolling hills of Alamo, has attracted numerous organizations, businesses, clubs and golf tournaments, including the LPGA. Encircled by paved cart paths, the lush 6,475 yards of finely manicured fairways and sculptured greens, wind among stately trees and placid lakes. Round Hill's professional golf staff, guided by PGA Professional David Plotnik, offers private lessons and group clinics for all level and ages of golfer. Our indoor Video Training offers golfers the top teaching aid available.

Top professionals recognize Round Hill Country Club as one of the most complete tennis facilities in Northern California. The new 4,000 square-foot tennis clubhouse, which features a 2,800 square-foot viewing deck to all of the upper courts, is complete. A sports bar-type atmosphere offers a fully stocked bar and the latest tennis merchandise. Round Hill's Tennis Club attracts the Bay Area's most competitive and social tennis players, and it is certainly the most active! The Club presents 15 championship tennis courts with nine lighted for evening play. The qualified and highly skilled group of teaching professionals can evaluate your rating and enhance your skills with lessons from beginners to national-ranked players. All of the teaching staff at Round Hill Country Club are USPTA Pro-1, the highest level of certification. Round Hill's experienced professional staff has developed a complete calendar of activities and programs for all tennis levels and ages and has added a top-of-the-line ball machine for our Members.

During Alamo summers, our Member families enjoy many relaxing hours in and around our state-of-the-art Aquatics Facility. Some initiate their children into Round Hill's renowned swim team; others are avid lap swimmers.

The Fitness Center is enthusiastically received by our Membership. With its state-of-the-art equipment and certified staff, the Fitnes Center s the perfect supplement for our active social Membership.

Round Hill's staff aspires to exceed your expectations in every way by providing a full complement of social activities and unique events, which are all part of the magic of Round Hill Country Club.

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The Stonegate Neighborhood - Alamo California

The Stonegate neighborhood in Alamo, California, (show map) was developed in 1987-88. This area of Alamo was formerly horse ranches which had access to Mount Diablo State Park riding trails. From highway 680 in Alamo, Stonegate is just 1.5 miles east on Livornia road. Close enough for those quick shopping trips but far enough out to eliminate freeway noise.

This enclave of 202 custom and semi-custom home sits in the northeast corner of Alamo, up against the Walnut Creek Lime Ridge regional park, and just a short walk to the Mount Diablo State Park. A guard gate community, there is only one road in or out of the neighborhood.

Most homes are on courts. Of the 202 homes, the builder Remington built 66. The smallest sized home is a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 2500 square feet with a 3 car garage. The largest Remington is a 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3050 square feet, 3 car garage. The custom homes range in size from around 3000 square feet up to more than 5000 square feet with 3 and 4+ car garages.

There is a parking lot and horse staging area just outside the Stonegate guard gate where visitor can unload and prepare their horses for a ride through beautiful trails in regional and state parks. The trails connect Lime Ridge Regional park with Mount Diablo State park.

Alamo is where many up and coming executives in the region hope to live someday, but home prices are tops in the region, much the same as Danville, Lafayette and Orinda. The schools are top ranked from elementary through high school. Alamo is a family oriented community with parental involvement in their childrens schools and sports activities.

Alamo is an unincorportated city in the San Ramon Valley area. Up to date statistics on alamo are difficult to get due to it's unincorporated status. Alamo is considered one of the "Prestigious communities" located at the foot of Mt. Diablo. It is home to many up and coming executives. Even though Alamo is governed from Martinez by the County Board of Supervisors, they still maintain local control through their own improvements association. Real estate home sales in Alamo is limited by the number of homes available in this small area surrounded by Walnut Creek, Danville and Mt. Diablo state park. Most Alamo residents stay put as Alamo has some of the best schools in the state, which is why Alamo a great town to raise your family. Alamo's population consists of approximately 93% homeowners. Their newest park, Livorna, covers five acres and includes a gazebo, large lawn area and sports courts. In the Roundhill subdivision, there is an 18 hole golf course and tennis courts. School scores are very high and much attention is paid to education. Alamo is a beautiful neighborhood, located in a exclusive and prestigious community. When you are ready to buy or sell a home in Alamo California, contact or call Gene Ward, Broker and Realtor specializing in Alamo real estate, (925) 798-2720.