Bay Area road and transit history from trails to BART
The Bay Area’s first roads followed animal paths with traders and Native trails shaping routes from Mission San Jose to Alameda County. Early rail and road development evolved from plank roads and stage lines to the first narrow gauge and electric transit, culminating in the Bay Area Rapid Transit system as a modern regional link.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bay Area
Alameda County
Mission San Jose
Qld
Stockton Pass
Alcatros Pass
San Leandro Trav
J. W. Doughterty
Dublin
Hayward
San Leandro
John Ward
Washington Boulevard
la Robert's Landing
John Whistman
California
San Francisco
San Jose
East Bay
Dougherty
Hay
San Francisco Bay Area
Carter Brothers
Newark
Hayward County Road
O Mission Boulevard
Tay
Henry Ford
Electric Railway
San Francisco Bay
Livermore
Oakland
Isrick
Alameda County Origins and early township divisions
The article traces the 1853 creation of Alameda County from parts of Contra Costa and Santa Clara, naming New Haven as initial county seat, later moved to San Leandro and Oakland. It lists townships such as Contra Costa, Oakland, Clinton, Eden, Murray, and Washington, and notes later divisions and settlements including Livermore, Pleasanton, Alisal, Niles, Washington Corners, and development toward incorporated cities like San Leandro, Hayward, and Newark with dates through the 20th century.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Contra Costa
Santa Clara
Alameda
el Arroyo de la Alameda
Alameda Creek
New Haven
Alvarado
Union City
San Leandro
Oakland
Alisal
Robert. Livermore
Nathaniel Green Patterson
Livermore Valley
Zimmerman
Murray
Doughtery
Fallon
Scarlett
Glaskin
Johnson
Amador Valley
Sunol Valley
Bay
F.L. Beard
John M. Horver
Don Jose
San Lorenzo
Mt Eden
Castro Valley
Haywards
Ede Township
Murray Township
Pleasanton
Livermore
Laddsville
Washington Township
Mission San Jose
Washington Corners
Centerville
Miles
Decoto
Newark
Warm Springs
Haywards and Livermore
Fremont
Alameda County
From Carrier Pigeon to Telegraph and Phone Ties
The piece traces communication shifts from carrier pigeons to telegraphy after 1844, noting Hayward’s first telegraph lines in 1685, Western Union’s 1866 Oakes Hotel office, and the spread of news as wires speed commerce. It covers early newspapers in Livermore, Bell’s telephone demonstrations in 1876, local circuits, farmer lines, and the Essanay factory in Niles producing Bronco Billy Westerns.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Samuel F.B. Morse
Hayward
Western Union Telegraph Co
Oakes Hotel
Alexander Graham Bell
Ufe
Sunset Telephone Telegraph Co
Oakland
San Leaniro
Haysward
Mt.Eden
Alvarado
Centerville
Irvington
Mission San Jose
Dougherty’s
Livermore
Stockton
Wells Fargo and Company
Southern Pacific
Western Union
Telephone Company
Keison
George Kasttun
Essanay Wi Lrm Manufacturing Co
Niles
Bronco Billy
Also Mentioned on This Page
Elers
Moraga Valley
Fruitvale
Redwood Country
Cinta Costa Costa County
Indian Gulch
Ward
Palomares Canyon
San Ramon
McLaughlin
Duncan Cameron
Mission Boulevard
Dumbarton
St Ot
Ohlone College
Bicentennial College
THE
Aicentennial Administration
Washington, D.C
College
Ghlone Vets Center
Vallejo
Alameda Canyon
Henry Smith
Lewis Center
Ale Ian
Akaneda County Advocate
Charles Coolidge
Word Journal
Willam Pitt Bartlet
Enterprise
Livemore
Tse
Exchange
Anbacher Brothers
Cobra Citizens Bond Radio
CHI
Motorola
NSTI
PPR
Jania Cobrach
RCA
Ero Salls
Tri-City
Ee Ledeen’s
Lloyd's
Ode of Stationery & Office Supply
Marien
Ledean's
First National Bank
BankAmericard
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!