Rancho to Ranch Homes—Mapping the Evolution of CV
During the past two centuries, Castro Valley has seen many changes, and a local author is finishing a book about the valley’s transitions in land development.
Historian Rick Kelly documents how Castro Valley went from chicken ranches to suburbia in his new book, “Rancho to Ranch Homes, Mapping the Evolution of Castro Valley.”
“There are at least four other books on Castro Valley history,” says Kelly. “This one is about how and why the town evolved the way it did, including land use and commuting patterns. It also corrects some myths about Castro Valley history.”
The book started with Kelly’s personal quest to identify his neighborhood’s original landowners. It expanded after Kelly requested information from the community. The book eventually grew to over 400 pages and is expected to be out in print in June or July.
Kelly partnered with the Hayward Area Historical Society, which has helped him through his years of research. Descendants of prominent residents have provided previously unseen pictures, documents, and stories. The book includes over 200 photographs and drawings, 200 maps of the area dating from 1824, an index of the suburban housing tracts from 1942 to 1970, and an index of almost 800 people who played a role in local history.
“It’s a fabulous book,” says Castro Valley realtor Tracy Bonal, whose interest in neighborhoods has prompted her to help promote Kelly’s book. “It covers from the days when there were ‘squatters’ here, all the way up to the present. Everybody in Castro Valley will love this book. It’s taken Rick four years to write,” she says.
Briefly, in 1843 Mexico gave one of its military officers, Don Guillermo Castro, the land we live on today. Castro also received parts of San Lorenzo, Hayward, Fairview, and Ashland. (California became a state in 1850.)
Over time squatters—illegal land occupants—moved onto Castro’s land and began farming. Some eventually bought the properties after Castro ran into hard financial times. Many street names come from folks who acquired land early on, including Mattox, Knox, Atherton, Proctor, Rose, and Brickell. As those landowners and their descendants subdivided their properties, a wide variety of Castro Valley neighborhoods evolved.
Much of Castro Valley was farmland—ranchos—until the post-WWII building boom.
Fast forward to today, when we live in one of the most desirable towns in the East Bay. Our famed microclimate, good schools, and parks attract many potential homebuyers. Realtor Bonal, a resident for over 30 years, says everybody wants to live here.
She adds, “I can’t wait for the book to come out so I can get copies for my kids and family members. When this book comes out it will be an event. Everyone is going to love it.”