Street Index - Introduction
The earliest recorded road in the area we know as Los Altos was El Camino Real, the historic "royal road" which the Spanish missionaries created to connect their 21 missions. Two hundred years later, the City of Los Altos has more than 430 streets. In order to learn about and preserve the history of their names while that history is still retrievable, the Historical Commission has initiated a community project.
The following list of street name histories is in its early stage. With the help of Los Altos residents, the Commission would like to accumulate more of the history. We invite individuals and groups to participate in a grass-roots effort to document the origin and history of the street names.
Each entry will include the name of a street, its location on the 1996 Los Altos Chamber of Commerce map, the date it was recorded as a street, a brief statement about its history, and the source of the information. We hope that the entries can be expanded and documented over time until the story is complete. For example, consider the following three entries:
Grant Road |
GHI 12 |
1868 |
This street ties for second earliest recorded county road in the area; it was named for Theodore and George Grant from Boston, who settled at the hill end of the road around 1860. It was the main thoroughfare connecting the southern Los Altos area with Old Mountain View, then located at its intersection with El Camino Real. Source: John Mandle, County records; Mountain View History Center |
Pine Lane |
C 6-7 |
1919 |
Originally called Coloff Road, this street is thought to have been named for the Monterey pines that used to be planted there. The name Pine Lane was recorded in 1919. Source: Don McDonald Pine Lane was recorded in 1967. Source: John Mandle from county records |
State Street |
DE 7 |
1936 |
This was entered along with a group of downtown streets in 1936. |
As you can see, the first entry is relatively complete, while the other two need additional information and documentation. Who named them? Why was the name Coloff dropped? We thank Don McDonald for his contribution, and we are counting on residents of all ages to help provide the missing information on these and other streets. Special thanks to John Mandle for compiling a list of the years that the streets were recorded by the county.
Where can one search for information of this kind? First, talk with residents who have lived in the neighborhood for twenty-five years or more. Second, find out who developed the neighborhood if it is made up of subdivisions. Third, look at records in the Santa Clara County Recorder's Office or County Surveyor's Office, San Jose. Fourth, read books on local history at the Los Altos Public Library or the California History Center at DeAnza College, such as:
Fava, Florence. Los Altos: Crown of the Peninsula. 1970
Fava, Florence. Los Altos Hills: the Colorful Story. 1976
Fitz, Anna Knapp. Riding Back: Historical Sketches. 1996
Nyberg, Paul, ed. Los Altos: Portrait of a Community. 2nd ed., 2000
Salameda, Joe. Memories of Los Altos.
San Jose Mercury News. Sunshine, Fruit, and Flowers. 1986, reprinted from original 1896 edition.
Fifth, look in the database at the Los Altos History Museum. The computer is located downstairs in the archival section. You need to make an appointment.
To submit a street name
To expand or correct one of the entries, please send e-mail with a description of your sources to the Historical Commission Staff Liaison Zach Dahl
. You will be cited as an individual contributor or group, and your participation will be greatly appreciated by all who are curious about the history of Los Altos/Los Altos Hills.
To Submit, copy and paste this information into your e-mail:
- Your complete name and/or club/school name
- Street name
- Your e-mail or phone
- Information about the street and your source--a person’s name or a document such as the deed or title history.
- Other clues or leads such as the developer’s or builder’ name on house blueprints
- Personal data will not be printed on the site; it will only be used for communication with you about the street’s history.
