USA > California > Contra Costa County > History of Contra Costa County, California, including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description; together with a record of the Mexican grants also, incidents of pioneer life; and biographical sketches of early and prominent settlers and representative men > Part 22
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ORIGINAL BOUNDARY .- " Beginning at the mouth of Alameda creek and running thence in a southwesterly direction to the middle of the Bay of San Francisco ; thence in a northerly or northwesterly direction, following, as near as may be the middle of the Bay to the Straits of San Pablo; thence up the middle of the Bay of San Pablo to the Straits of Carquinez; thence running up the middle of said Straits to the Suisun Bay, and up the mid- dle of said Bay to the mouth of the San Joaquin river ; thence following up the middle of said river to the place known as Pescadero or lower cross- ing ; thence in a direct line to the northeast corner of Santa Clara county, which is on the summit of the Coast Range, near the source of Alameda creek ; thence down the middle of said creek to its mouth, which was the place of beginning, including the islands of San Pablo, Coreacas and Tesoro. The seat of Justice shall be at the town of Martinez."
On March 25, 1853, an Act was passed by the Legislature whereby the county of Alameda was formed from the southern portion of Contra Costa, and a slice of Santa Clara county, leaving the present official boundary to be as follows :
PRESENT BOUNDARY .- " Beginning in the Bay of San Francisco, at the northwest point of Red Rock, being the common corner of Marin, Contra Costa and San Francisco, as established in Section three thousand nine hun- dred and fifty of the Political Code of the State of California ; thence up the Straits and Bay of San Pablo, on the eastern boundary of Marin, to the point of intersection with the line bearing south twenty-six and one-half
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degrees east, and about six and one-quarter miles distant from the south- west corner of Napa county, as established in Section three thousand nine hundred and fifty-eight, forming the common corner of Marin, Solano, So- noma and Contra Costa, as established in Section three thousand nine hun- dred and fifty-five; thence to the Straits of Carquinez; thence up said Straits and Suisun Bay, to the mouth of the San Joaquin river ; thence up said river to the confluence of the west and main channels thereof, as laid down in Gibbe's map ; thence up said west channel to a point about ten miles below Moore and Rhode's ranch, at a bend where the said west channel, running downward, takes a general course north, the point being on the westerly line of San Joaquin county, and forming the northeast corner of Alameda and southeast corner of Contra Costa; thence on the northern line of Alameda, as laid down on Horace A. Higley's map, and as established in Section three thousand nine hundred and fifty-three, to the easterly line of San Francisco city and county, as established in Section three thousand nine hundred and fifty; thence due northwest along said easterly line of San Francisco, four and one-half miles, more or less, to the place of begin- ning, county seat, Martinez."
The basis of this boundary is from the Statutes, 1851, p. 174; 1852, p. 173, and 1853, p. 56.
SENATORIAL DISTRICTS .- In the first partition of the State, Contra Costa was attached to Santa Clara county for Senatorial purposes, and so con- tinued until 1854, when it elected a joint Senator with the county of San Joaquin. Thus it remained until 1862, when it was attached to Marin, which is its present position.
JUDICIAL DISTRICTS .- The State of California was divided into Judi- cial Districts March 29, 1850, and John H. Watson became Judge of the Third District, which comprised the counties of Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey. In 1853 Contra Costa was attached to the Seventh Judicial District, which embraced Solano, Napa, Sonoma and Marin, and so continued until March, 1862, when the county became a portion of the Fourth Judicial District, being in the following year annexed to the Third Judicial District. In 1864, it was made a part of the Fif- teenth Judicial District, and so remained until the passing of the New Constitution.
COURT OF SESSIONS .- On April 11, 1850, an act of the Legislature was passed organizing the Court of Sessions, in which body, as will be seen, was vested the entire general civil business of the county. This Court consisted of the County Judge, who should preside at its sessions, assisted by two Justices of the Peace of the County as Associate Justices, they being chosen by their brother Justices from out of the whole number elected for the county. The duties imposed upon this orgnization were multifarious. They
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made such orders respecting the property of the county as they deemed ex- pedient, in conformity with any law of the State, and in them were vested the care and preservation of said property. They examined, settled and allowed all accounts chargeable against the county ; directed the raising of such sums for the defraying of all expenses and charges against the county, by means of taxation on property, real and personal, such not to exceed, however, the one-half of the tax levied by the State on such property ; to examine and audit the accounts of all officers having the care, manage- ment, collection and disbursement of any money belonging to the county, or appropriated by law, or otherwise, for its use and benefit. In them was the power of control and management of public roads, turnpikes, fences, canals, roads and bridges within the county, where the law did not prohib- it such jurisdiction; and make such orders as should be requisite and necessary to carry such control and management into effect; to divide the county into townships, and to create new townships, and change the di- vision of the same as the convenience of the county should require. They established and changed election precincts; controlled and managed the property, real and personal, belonging to the county, and purchased and re- ceived donations of property for the use of the county, with this proviso, that they should not have the power to purchase any real or personal property, except such as should be absolutely necessary for the use of the county. To sell and cause to be conveyed, any real estate, goods, or chat- tels belonging to the county, appropriating the funds of such sale to the use of the same. To cause to be erected and furnished, a Court-house, jail and other buildings, and to see that the same are kept in repair, and other- wise to perform all such other duties as should be necessary to the full discharge of the powers conferred on such Court. Terms were ordered to be held on the second Monday of February, April, June, August, October and December, with quarterly sessions on the third Monday of February, May, August and November of each year.
No time would appear to have been lost in the organization of the Court in Contra Costa county, for we find it at work under the direction of County Judge F. M. Warmcastle on April 17, 1850.
ORIGINAL TOWNSHIP BOUNDARIES .- On that date the county was first divided into townships, as follows :
NEW YORK .- The township of New York by a line commencing in the Suisun bay on the boundary line of the county opposite a point of eleva- vated headland on the shore of said bay nearly equidistant between the towns of New York and Martinez, running to said point of headland ; from thence by the east summit of Monte del Diablo to a point on the boundary line of said county two miles south of Livermore's Rancho; thence east- erly along said county line to the middle of the main channel of the San
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Joaquin river opposite the lower crossing of said river; thence down the middle of the main channel of said river to its mouth; thence down the middle of the Suisun bay along the boundary line of said county of Contra Costa to the place of beginning.
MARTINEZ .-- Commencing at the boundary line of Contra Costa county . in the Suisun Bay, at the western boundary line of New York township ; thence along the western boundary line of said township to its termination on the county line, two miles below or south of Livermore's Rancho ; thence along the eastern boundary line and down the middle of Alameda creek to its mouth ; thence along the western boundary line of Contra Costa county to a point in the bay opposite the mouth of the creek running down from the Maragna (Moraga) Redwoods ; thence up the middle of said creek to where it fork's, about three miles below the redwoods ; thence up to the top of the ridge between the two forks of the creek ; thence along the summit of said ridge to an elevated point of land known as Cape Horn ; thence in a direct line to Pinola (Pinole) Point, at the mouth of the Straits of Carquinez, and to the middle of the straits, to the northern boundary line of the county of Contra Costa ; thence through the middle of the Straits of Carquinez along said county line to the place of beginning.
SAN ANTONIO .-- Commencing at the northwestern boundary line of Mar- tinez township, on the northern boundary line of Contra Costa county; thence along the western boundary line of Martinez township to its termi- nation on the eastern boundary line of San Francisco county ; thence along the western boundary line of Contra Costa county at low water mark to Golden Rock ; thence up the middle of San Pablo Bay to the place of beginning.
These townships were, however, found to be too unwieldy. - Thereupon the petition of certain citizens in the eastern portion of Martinez township praying that a portion of it should be set off and recognized as a separate division ; therefore the Court organized the township of
ALAMEDA .- Commencing at the mouth of the Redwood creek; thence running up said creek near the redwoods ; thence east to the source of the Arroyo San Ramon ; thence down the San Ramon to its junction with the Euguarto ; thence in an easterly direction to the eastern boundary line of the county, at the boundary line of New York and Martinez townships ; thence along the eastern boundary of the county and township to the place of beginning.
Upon the petition of the citizens of San Antonio township, the Board of Supervisors, who had undertaken the affairs of the county under the Act of the Legislature passed May 3, 1852, on August 12th defined the town- ship of
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CONTRA COSTA .- That said township of San Antonio be divided, and ordered that the portion of said township being embraced within the limits of the town of Oakland be set apart, and designated the township of Contra Costa; and that the balance of the present township of San Antonio remain as the township of San Antonio.
Still, the townships would seem to have been too large, for the Board of Supervisors, under date October 18, 1852, created the township of
SAN PABLO .- All that portion of San Antonio township from the Mar- tinez township line to the Cerrito of San Pablo be set off from the said township of San Antonio, and the same be called the township of San Pablo.
While from Martinez township there was formed the district of
MONTE DIABLO .- Commencing seven miles from the shore on the line of New York township ; thence running at right angles to the head of Pinole valley, intersecting the line of San Antonio township, and that said portion so set off shall be called the township of Monte Diablo.
Besides these, the following townships were partitioned off :-
SAN LORENZO and SAN ANTONIO .- That Alamo township* with the present boundary terminating towards the west, with the highest point on the ridge of the Contra Costa range, and San Antonio township with its present boundary from Cerrito down to the San Lorenzo creek be divided and two townships be created, the San Antonio township to extend from Cerrito of San Pablo to San Leandro and designated the township of San Antonio ; and from San Leandro creek to the boundary line of Santa Clara county be designated San Lorenzo township.
On August 7, 1854, the county was re-districted throughout by the Court of Sessions, who had again come into power, and the townships num- bered in lieu of the names they had hitherto borne.
TOWNSHIP NUMBER ONE .- Beginning at the northern boundary line of the county at the north side of the mouth of Walnut creek to a point op- posite the dividing ridge between Taylor's valley and the residence of Widow Welch ; thence northerly along said ridge, passing two hundred yards east of the house of William Allen, to the dividing ridge between the waters of Walnut creek and the Arroyo el Hambre ; thence westwardly passing north of the house of A. R. Meloney to the San Pablo creek one- half mile south of the house formerly occupied by John F. S. Smith ; thence northwardly to San Pablo bay one-fourth of a mile west of the mouth of Pinole creek ; thence to the northern boundary line of the county and east- wardly along the same to the place of beginning.
* There is no record of the creation of this Township, nor is there any of its boundaries.
& Han hurst,
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TOWNSHIP NUMBER Two .- Beginning at Walnut creek opposite the dividing ridge between Taylor's valley and the residence of Widow Welch ; thence up the channel of Walnut creek to the crossing on the road from Thomas J. Jones' to David Hunsaker's ; thence south to the boundary line of the county ; thence along the southern and western boundary line of the county to the head of the Cerrito creek ; thence easterly, passing one-half mile south of the house formerly occupied by John F. S. Smith and north of the residence of A. R. Meloney to the dividing ridge between the waters of Walnut creek and El Hambre ; thence southwardly, passing two hun- dred yards east of the house of William Allen along the ridge between Taylor's valley and the residence of Widow Welch to the place of be- ginning.
TOWNSHIP NUMBER THREE .- Beginning at the northern boundary line of the county, one-fourth of a mile west of the mouth of Pinole creek ; thence southerly along the west line of Township Number One to the San Pablo creek, one-half mile south of the house formerly occupied by John F. S. Smith ; thence westerly to the source of Cerrito creek, dividing the ranchos of San Pablo and San Antonio, being the boundary line between the counties of Alameda and Contra Costa ; thence along the boundary line between Contra Costa and Alameda counties to the northwest corner of the county line ; thence easterly along the county boundary to the place of beginning.
TOWNSHIP NUMBER FOUR .- Beginning at the boundary line of the county, east of the house of Robert Livermore ; thence westerly, passing north of the residence of Livermore, to the summit of Monte Diablo ; thence along the summit of the highest ridge to a point due east of the junction of the Arroyo San Ramon with Walnut creek, near the house of George W. Thorne ; thence westerly to the junction of San Ramon and Walnut creeks ; thence along the channel of Walnut creek to the crossing of the road lead- ing from the house of Thomas J. Jones, in Taylor's valley, to the residence of Daniel Hunsaker ; thence south to the boundary line of the county ; thence easterly along the southern boundary line of the county to the place of beginning.
TOWNSHIP NUMBER FIVE .- Beginning at the northern boundary line of the county, at the north side of the mouth of Walnut creek ; thence to and along the channel of Walnut creek to its conjunction with the Arroyo San Ramon ; thence easterly along the dividing ridge to the summit of Monte Diablo; thence easterly along the dividing ridge north of the valley of Tassajara to a point south of the house of John McGreer; thence northerly, passing one mile east of the house of John McGreer, to the dividing ridge between Pacheco's and New York; thence northerly along said dividing ridge to a point in Suisun Bay two hundred yards west of the house of J.
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H. Clark ; thence to and westerly along the northern boundary line of the county to the place of beginning.
TOWNSHIP NUMBER SIX .- Beginning at the lower crossing on the San Joaquin River, known as the Pescadero ; thence westerly along the bound- ary line of the county to a point east of the house of Robert Livermore ; thence westerly along the line of Township Number Four to a point south of the house of John McGreer ; thence northerly along the line of Township Number Six to the dividing ridge between New York and Pacheco valley ; thence along the eastern line of Township Number Six to the northern boundary line of the county ; thence easterly along the boundary line of the county to the place of beginning. .
It was ordered by the Board of Supervisors who again held sway over the civil destinies of Contra Costa county, under date August 8, 1855, that the division into townships made the year previous by the Court of Sessions should be legalized and confirmed. It was directed, however, that Town- ship Number One should be so far changed as to include the territory within the following boundaries: Commencing at a point on Walnut creek one-fourth of a mile north of the house of F. M. Warmcastle; thence run- ning in a southerly direction along the channel of said creek to the mouth of a small creek which empties into said Walnut creek near the house of Thomas J. Jones ; thence running in a southerly direction to the southwest corner of Township Number Four on the southern boundary of the county ; thence westerly and following said boundary line of the county to Cerrito creek ; thence in a northerly direction to the San Pablo creek at a point where the line dividing Township Number One from Township Number Three strikes said creek, and near the house formerly occupied by John F. S. Smith ; thence in an easterly direction to a point one-half mile north of the house of A. R. Meloney ; thence to the place of beginning.
Heretofore we have seen the county partitioned off into six townships ; on October 16, 1856, this distribution was again changed, the result being three townships in all, as under :
TOWNSHIP NUMBER ONE .- Bounded by a line beginning at the mouth of Walnut creek ; thence up the main channel thereof to a point one-half mile north of the house of F. M. Warmcastle ; thence westerly, passing one- eighth of a mile north of the house of A. R. Meloney to San Pablo creek, one-half mile west of the house formerly occupied by John F. S. Smith ; thence south to the boundary line of the county ; thence northwesterly and continuing along the boundary line of the county to a point on Suisun Bay opposite the mouth of Walnut creek ; thence to the place of beginning.
TOWNSHIP NUMBER Two .- Beginning at a point on Walnut creek one- half mile north of the house of F. M. Warmcastle; thence westerly following
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the line of Township Number One to the boundary line of the county ; thence easterly along the said boundary line of the county to a point near the house of Robert Livermore; thence westerly, following the dividing ridge north of Tassajara valley to the summit of Monte Diablo; thence westerly to Walnut creek at a point on said creek at the bridge near John Nicholson's ; thence down the creek to the place of beginning.
TOWNSHIP NUMBER THREE .- Bounded on the west and south by Town- ships Numbers One and Two, and on the northeast by the boundary line of the county.
TOWNSHIP NUMBER ONE .- These divisions remained undisturbed until February 9, 1870, when the Board of Supervisors ordered that all that portion of Contra Costa county heretofore known as Township Number One, which lies easterly of a line commencing at a point on the north shore of the Straits of Carquinez where the line dividing the Pinole Rancho from the Rancho Cañ- ada del Hambre intersects the shore; thence running on said division line between said two ranchos, southeasterly, easterly, southerly and so on, fol- lowing the line dividing said ranchos until it intersects the public road from Martinez to San Pablo ; thence in a direct line to the bridge which spans a creek near the Rodeo Valley school-house ; thence due south to Rodeo creek ; thence up Rodeo creek to its source ; thence due south to the line dividing Townships One and Two as heretofore established, be and the same is hereby established as and declared to be Township Number One of Contra Costa county .*
TOWNSHIP NUMBER FOUR .- And all that portion of said Township Number One, as heretofore established, lying westerly of said line, herein- before described, be and the same is hereby established as and declared to be Township Number Four of Contra Costa county.+
On May 8, 1872, yet another change in the boundaries of the townships took place.
TOWNSHIP NUMBER ONE .- Commencing on the county line in Suisun Bay, on the township line, according to United States survey, between township three north, range one west, and township three north, range two west ; thence running south to the northwest corner of section eighteen, township two north, range one west, on the northern boundary line of the Pacheco Grant; thence in a southeasterly direction along the boundary line of said grant to the most eastern boundary of the grant ; thence south and southwesterly along the boundary line of said grant to its southern extremity; thence northwesterly along the boundary line of said grant to the northern extremity of the Rancho San Miguel ; thence southwesterly along the line
* This order was abrogated by the Board of Supervisors on February 6, 1871, but the Township was re-estab- lished on August 8th, following.
t This order was rescinded August 9, 1871.
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dividing the San Miguel and Pacheco Grants to Walnut creek; thence northwesterly one-half mile to the southern line of section two, township one north, range two west ; thence due west on the southern line of sections two, three, four, five and six, same townships and range, to the eastern boundary of the Rancho la Bocha de la Cañada de Pinole; thence south along said eastern boundary line two miles ; thence west half a mile; thence south one mile to the northern boundary of the Rancho Acalanes ; thence west along the southern boundary of the Rancho la Bocha de la Cañada de Pinole to the southwestern corner; thence in a southwestern direction, crossing the summit of Rocky Mound to the Alameda county line ; thence following the Contra Costa county line around to the place of beginning.
TOWNSHIP NUMBER Two .- Commencing at the southern corner of Pacheco Rancho ; thence south one mile to the middle of section twenty-one, town- ship one north, range one west; thence east one mile; thence south two miles ; thence east one mile ; thence south half a mile to the Monte Diablo base line; thence east one and one-half miles to the summit of Monte Diablo; thence south on the meridian line three miles; thence east four miles ; thence south one mile; thence east to the western boundary line of the Cañada de los Vaqueros Rancho; thence southerly on said western boundary line to the Alameda county line, to the southern boundary of Township Number One ; thence northeasterly along said southern boundary line to the place of beginning.
TOWNSHIP NUMBER THREE .- Commencing on the county line in Suisun Bay on the eastern boundary of Township Number One; thence south- easterly on said eastern boundary line to the eastern boundary of Town- ship Number Two; thence southeasterly along the northeastern boundary line of said Township Number Two to the Alameda county line; thence easterly on said county line to the eastern boundary line of Contra Costa county ; thence northerly and westerly on said county line to the place of beginning.
On June 11, 1872, two judicial townships, numbered one and two, were created from out of Township Number One, and bounded as follows : Commencing at the Lots thirty-nine and forty of the Welch Rancho, on the eastern boundary thereof, on the Walnut creek ; thence running due west on the line between Lots nine and ten, eight and eleven of said rancho until said lines intersect the eastern side of the Martinez and San Ramon public highway ; thence following along the middle line of said road to the line dividing Supervisor Districts One and Two; thence along said lines until the same intersect Supervisor Districts One and Three; thence easterly along said lines dividing Supervisor Districts One and Three and Supervisor District Number Three ; thence following the middle of Suisun Bay to a
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point opposite the center of Walnut creek ; thence following said creek to the point of beginning .*
PRESENT TOWNSHIP BOUNDARIES .- This now brings us to the townships which obtain at the present writing. These were made the sub- ject of a redistribution by the Board of Supervisors on May 12, 1873, and are as follows :
TOWNSHIP NUMBER ONE .- Commencing at a point in the county line opposite the center of the mouth of Walnut creek ; thence up said creek with its meanderings until it intersects the line dividing Lots thirty-nine and forty of the Welch Rancho, on the eastern boundary thereof, on Wal- nut creek ; thence running due west on the line between Lots nine and ten and eight and eleven of said rancho to intersect the Martinez and San Ramon public highway ; thence following along the middle line of said public highway, in a southeasterly direction, to the section line dividing sections four and nine, township one north, range two west; thence west one and three-fourths miles ; thence south two miles ; thence west one-half mile to the township line ; thence south one mile ; thence west to the south- west corner of the Rancho de la Bocha de la Cañada del Pinole ; thence southwest to intersect the county line at the southeast corner of section thirty-one, township one north, range three west ; thence westerly follow- ing the township line into the Bay of San Francisco ; thence following the county line in the Bays of San Francisco and San Pablo, Straits of Car- quinez and Suisun Bay to the point of beginning.
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