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The bedroom community of San Carlos is less than 10% Hispanic and overwhelmingly Anglo. However, this is a far cry from its early beginnings. The original dwellers of the mid-Peninsula town were the Lamchins, who were part of the Ohlone Indians, a tribe of the Costanoans.
The first non-natives the Lamchins saw took place in 1775 when the crew of a ship named San Carlos arrived on the Peninsula. This was a portent of what was to come.
As the Spanish arrived, they began establishing missions, pueblos and other places, and the lives of the Lamchins began to change, and not in a good way. They were severely affected by disease, forced labor and the general impact of what foreigners brought upon them.
No one is quite sure how the city of San Carlos got its name. One possibility is it was named after the ship that brought the first outsiders. Another suggests it came from King Charles III of Spain. Another possibility is the Feast of St. Charles which took place on Nov. 4, 1769.
The story of the land itself has its own tale.
Captain Don Dario Arguello was comandante of the Presidio of San Francisco from 1787 to 1791. He also served as governor of Alta, California. For his dedication to duty, the Spanish government awarded him just over 35,000 acres, which was called Rancho de las Pulgas.
Despite the generous grant, Arguello chose to remain at the Presidio.
The first native-born governor to serve under the Mexican government was Dario’s son Don Luis. It was only after the death of Don Luis, his widow, Doña María Soledad Ortega de Arguello took up residence on the Rancho de las Pulgas land, moving into an adobe home, which is believed to have been located at the corner of today’s Cedar and Magnolia streets.
In 1851, she sold it along with 200 acres to Timothy Guy Phelps. He purchased an additional 3,500 acres. Phelps and the Brittans and Hull families became very wealthy and eventually became the first prominent San Carlos residents.
In 1907, the San Carlos Park Syndicate was formed to develop the modern city.
San Carlos was incorporated in 1925.
Everything else is just history
Some of the photos used in this blog are courtesy of the Local History Room, Redwood City's best-kept secret. The Local History Collection covers all aspects of Redwood City's development, from the 1850s to the present day, with particular emphases on businesses, public schools, civic organizations, city agencies, and early family histories. The Local History Room is not affiliated with the Redwood City Public Library, but it is inside it.
