Founded in 1852, Oakland, California has history that goes back much further than its 150 years. Native Americans lived in the region for over 5,000 years. The Spanish visited the area in the 1770s, and came to settle about 50 years later. Asians, African Americans, and those of Northern European extraction came with the Gold Rush, and put down their own roots.

Washington Street
The transcontinental railroad arrived in Oakland in 1869. To accommodate tired passengers, the area near the station at 7th Street and Broadway grew into Oakland’s first shopping district. Washington Street, just around the corner from the station, included both hotels and shopping. Oakland’s fourth City Hall presides over the street in 1888.

Dimond District
Oakland’s Dimond District bears the name of Hugh Dimond whose home was once located in present-day Dimond Park. The Altenheim looms on the horizon in this1890 photo (see photo below) taken from “Prospect Hill” at the intersection of present-day Lincoln Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard.

14th St. & 23rd Ave
Public transportation played an important role in the development of Oakland. In 1876 a single-horse-car track was the only mark of progress at 14th Street and Broadway. By 1900, twenty or more electric cars passed the same corner daily and “electric railroads” reached out in every direction from downtown Oakland with 150 miles of track and 10 miles of cable. A single trip, including transfer, cost five cents. The East 14th Street line, at 23^rd Avenue, connected Oakland with the outlying “suburbs” of Melrose, Seminary Park and Elmhurst.

Melrose
Named for its counterpart in Scotland, the town of Melrose was incorporated into the City of Oakland after the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire in 1906. Melrose boasts one of Oakland’s five Carnegie Libraries.

Downtown Elmhurst
The village of Elmhurst grew along the rail line that connected Oakland with points south and west. Elmhurst became part of the city of Oakland after the 1906 earthquake.

California Cotton Mills
The California Cotton Mills was organized in 1883 as the only cotton mill west of Chicago. The company employed about 700. The mill manufactured a large variety of goods including table cloths, comforters and canvas.

Oakland was ranked the nation’s 8th best city for business in the Forbes annual survey of the Best Places in America for Business and Careers in 2002. This ranking represents an improvement over last year’s 10th place ranking and is even more noteworthy given the stunning rankings drop for San Francisco and San Jose.

“The Forbes ranking reflects Oakland’s unique resilience and dynamic economy,” said Mayor Jerry Brown. Oakland outpaced both San Jose and San Francisco, which were ranked 61st and 54th, respectively, in this year’s survey. San Jose dropped from the 1st place in 2001, while San Francisco plummeted from 3rd.

Oakland’s high ranking in the Forbes survey came on the heels of being named as one of the America’s top 10 technology cities by NEWSWEEK magazine in April 2001. Oakland has also been rated the #1 office market in the U.S., according to the Landauer Realty Group’s Office Momentum Index that appeared in the April 5, 2000 edition of the Wall Street Journal.