Origins of Oakland

Origins of Oakland. . , In 1850, a twenty-six year old New Englander named Edson Adams set his sights on 480 acres of oak covered shore at the foot of what is now Broadway, on the banks of San Antonio Creek. Although the land was part of the Peralta family rancho he and fellow speculators, Horace Carpenter and Andrew Moon, laid out lots and planned a town. The legality of their actions would be discussed in the courts for years to come. In 1852 the State Legislature incorporated the township of Oakland. The settlement’s name was derived from “El Encinal (oak grove) de Temescal”. The boundaries of the town were the Bay on the west, 22nd street to the north, Lake Merritt on the east, and San Antonio Creek on the south. At its founding, the Town of Oakland has 75 residents. In 1996, the City of Oakland’s population was 373,242. , Donated by , Shanna O’Hare.