Category: San Jose

Spain established a total of three pueblos, towns, in what is now California, then called Alta California. These were the first three non-native settlements in California that were civil. Prior non-native settlements were either established as military (Presidios) or religious settlements (Missions). The first pueblos in order were San José on 11/29/1777, Los Angeles on 9/4/1781, and Villa de Branciforte on 7/24/1797 that is now part of Santa Cruz.

Sources: 1)Clyde Arbuckle’s history of San José, book by Clyde Arbuckle, 1986, pages 10, 21-22. 2)http://villadebranciforte.org/history.htm#chrono , 2019.

The original name of San José was Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe. It was named after Saint Joseph who was thought of by the settlers as the patron saint of the Spanish expedition through California that brought them here. The added reference of Guadalupe was to note the pueblo’s attachment to the Guadalupe River.

Source: Clyde Arbuckle’s history of San José, book by Clyde Arbuckle, 1986, page 10.