Castro Valley, CA

Castro Valley is a suburban city located in Alameda County, California. The population was 106,096 at the 2010 census. Castro Valley is named after Don Guillermo Castro, a soldier in the Mexican-American War and one of the original landowners in the area. The Castro Valley area was originally part of Rancho San Antonio granted to José Peña by the Spanish government in 1842. In 1853, John W. Geary and Alonzo Chappel divided a portion of the land that would become Castro Valley and built their homes there. However, no roads existed yet so travel was very difficult.

In 1868, two Irishmen named James and Daniel O'Connell came to California on horseback and began buying land in Castro Valley from José Peña for $6 an acre. They built their home on what is now called "O'Connell Hill". In 1874 James sold his share of the valley to Daniel who continued to live there until his death in 1886. Daniel's son-in-law, William McCarthy purchased part of the valley from Daniel's heirs in 1907 for $7500. William McCarthy built his home on what is now called "McCarthy Hill" near where present day I-580 crosses over Highway 84 near milepost 10 (near present day Newark). By 1914 there were only a few homes remaining in Castro Valley as developers started buying up large tracts of land for new housing developments outside of town limits

In 1917 Henry Jaffe developed what would become known as "Jaffetown" just south of Newark between Highway 84 and Bancroft Way (now known as Foothill Boulevard). Jaffetown consisted of seventy-five single family dwellings which were sold starting at $7000 each In 1923 developers Edward Doheny Jr., Walter Haas Jr., and Arthur Lettsome founded Del Monte Colony north of Newark between Bancroft Way and San Ramon Road (now known as Broadway). This development consisted of 1,500 single family dwellings which were sold starting at $8000 each In 1925 developers George Dutton Jr., Frank Vanderlip Jr., Albert Heinegg Sr., Charles Ebbets Jr., Irving Berliner III, David Rockefeller Sr., Alfred P Sloan Jr., Franklin D Roosevelt Sr., Harry Hopkins all joined forces to form The Del Monte Development Company which purchased an additional 2200 acres north east from Del Monte Colony for future development

The first major development outside town limits was planned by Frederick Law Olmsted who designed a community he called " Oakland Hills" just east of downtown Castro Valley between Highway 84 and Bancroft Way (now known as Foothill Boulevard) which was completed in 1927 This community consisted primarily of single family dwellings with some multiunit buildings scattered throughout In 1929 developer Joseph Eichler developed East Oakland Hills consisting primarilyof single family dwellings with some multiunit buildings scattered throughout . East Oakland Hills became popularly known as "Eichlerstown" or simply "Eichler". Developers such as Eichler himself, Robert Tomesco Sr., Carlton Freeman II, Donald Brenker Sr./Jr./III/IV/V/VI/VII/VIII have contributed significantly to making Castro Valley one of America's most desirable suburbs

In 1941 developer William Pereira developed Northgate consisting primarilyof single family dwellings with some multiunit buildings scattered throughout . Northgate became popularly known as "Pereirawoods" or simply "Pereiras". Developers such as Pereira himself have contributed significantly to making Castro Valley one if America's most desirable suburbs

In 1961 developer Victor Gruen designed Rollingwood consisting primarilyof single family dwellings with some multiunit buildings scattered throughout . Rollingwood became popularly known as "Gruenwood". Developers such as Gruen himself have contributed significantly to making Castro Valley one if America's most desirable suburbs