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History & Facts About Pleasanton, California

Sunday, January 5, 2014

By Madeleine Glazier


Pleasanton, California, a picturesque city in California's Alameda County, is an ideal place to live and work. In fact, it has even been named as one of best places in the country to live by both Forbes and Money magazine. With a mild climate and close access to the San Francisco Bay, it is little wonder that many people flock to this mid-size city, which has a population of slightly more than 70,000 inhabitants.

The first people to inhabit the area now known as Pleasanton were Native Americans, specifically the Ohlone, which were similar to many other hunter-gatherer groups that lived in the central and southern areas of coastal California. The Spanish arrived around 1777, and the Ohlone were forced to work at the missions and ranchos of the area. Rancho Santa Rita encompassed the area that is now Pleasanton. During the Gold Rush, a town called Alisal existed here and it was a notorious spot for bandits, and gunfights were a common occurrence. Fortunately, life calmed down and Pleasanton became an official city in 1894.

One surprising bit of trivia is that Pleasanton was not given its name because of its pleasant nature, but the name is actually a typographic error. The city actually was named after Alfred Pleasonton, who was the Union cavalry general at the Battle of Gettysburg. His heroic efforts were not only important at Gettysburg but also in ending the war in Missouri. Sadly, a postal service employee made a mistake while registering the name and the spelling stuck.

There are many attractions in this city, and visitors often enjoy strolling through the historic downtown area, which boasts late 19th century architecture as well as shops, pubs and restaurants. There are quite a few events scheduled downtown during the course of the year, such as the annual tree lighting and holiday parade in December. The 1st Wednesday Street Party events also are popular, and visitors can enjoy a cold beer or glass of wine while they browse through shops and booths while enjoying live music.

The Alameda County Fair has been held in Pleasanton every year since 1912, and the Alameda County Fairgrounds also includes a racetrack that is the oldest single-track horseracing venue in the United States, having opened in 1858. To put that into perspective, the Kentucky Derby didn't begin running until 1875. In addition to the fair and horseracing, there are many other events during the year, including the nation's largest two-day Scottish cultural event, the Scottish Highland Gathering and Games.

If your family is interested in relocating to Alameda County or Contra Costa County, contact the realtors at 1stInSite.com. They are experts at locating Pleasonton real estate and can show you many Pleasanton real estate listings, as well as homes for sale in San Ramon, real estate in Dublin, new homes in Livermore and many nearby towns and cities.




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