Martinez is the county seat for Contra Costa County
El Sobrante is in Contra Costa County
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Hill View Center, El Sobrante's first strip mall, was constructed in 1960. Though the businesses have changed over the years, the appearance of the complex has changed very little. The "ranch house" architectural style was very popular during this . . . — — Map (db m94307) HM
Here, following the base of San Pablo Ridge, ran the tracks of the California & Nevada Railroad. Incorporated in 1881, its founders had grand plans to run from Emeryville to Nevada. The line never got farther than Orinda. Until ending service in . . . — — Map (db m94300) HM
These eucalyptus trees mark the route of the narrow gauge California and Nevada railroad chartered in 1884 to connect California to the Nevada mines.
Only 23 miles of track were completed by 1891 from Emeryville to Bryant now Orinda. In addition . . . — — Map (db m133653) HM
This was the site of Pitt Arena, which featured equestrian events during the 1930s and 1940s. Owned by Babe and Claude Pitt, the arena showcased the horsemanship of the El Sobrante Horsemen's Association, San Pablo Horsemen's Association, Western . . . — — Map (db m148703) HM
El Sobrante never attracted heavy industry. Probably the largest commercial enterprise in the town was the S.P. Skow & Sons Dairy, which supplied milk in Richmond and surrounding towns. For most of that time, the dairy was located on Clark Road, . . . — — Map (db m94273) HM
In 1946, Charles Deabenderter constructed this building for his Chevrolet service and repair business. The building has remained an auto repair business since that time, although under different names and specializations. In 1974 the business was . . . — — Map (db m94277) HM
A branch of Mechanics Bank opened at this location in May 1955. Aside from its added faux roof façade and wall graphics, the building itself is a nice example of mid-century modern architecture, a recognized genre passionately preserved in many . . . — — Map (db m94279) HM
El Sobrante's first free-standing post office opened in this building in 1957, marking an important milestone in the town's development. The post office was previously located in the adjacent Lee's Variety Store (the Elks Lodge as of 2014) and . . . — — Map (db m94308) HM
The large building at this site was the home of El Sobrante's first supermarket, which opened in 1951. Owned by the Louis Store chain, the store was re-named LoRay in 1965 when the business was bought by Loretta and Ray Dickenson. A portion of the . . . — — Map (db m94299) HM
The Fry's Foods grocery chain began at this location in 1954 when Donald Fry acquired Ray's Market, owned by Ray Dickenson. Joined by his brother, Charles, in 1955, they grew that initial store into a 41-store chain which they sold in 1972. Charles . . . — — Map (db m94274) HM
You are standing at the point of the blue arrow, which lies on the border between the San Pablo and El Sobrante Ranchos. Both grants were
made by the Mexican Government to members of the Castro family in 1834 and 1841, respectively. On your right . . . — — Map (db m189391) HM
El Sobrante pioneer, John Oliver, purchased an existing business at this location in 1943, and re-opened it as a hardware store and gas station. As of 2013 it has been the longest continuously operating business in downtown El Sobrante. The . . . — — Map (db m94272) HM
Opened in 1949, the Park Theatre was the only commercial movie theatre in El Sobrante. It was owned and built by Dick Jeha, member of a prominent local family in the business community. More than just a movie house, the Park served for years as a . . . — — Map (db m94296) HM
El Sobrante gets its name from Rancho El Sobrante, "surplus" land situated between existing ranchos that in 1841 was granted by the government of Mexico to brothers Juan Jose and Victor Castro. Curiously, El Sobrante's downtown is actually within . . . — — Map (db m94305) HM
