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Who was Here First?

      The first settlers in Redwood City were 

the Ohlone Indians. The Spaniards called 

them "Costanoans". They lived here for 

more than 4,000 years before explorers 

arrived! They lived peacefully and used 

their natural resources to survive. 

     The Ohlones loved 

eating shellfish, but 

they would throw their 

shells in piles when 

they were done. 

Eventually, there were 

huge piles of shells all 

throughout the villages!

Who Came Next?

     The Spanish, or 

Spaniards, were the next 

to arrive in Redwood 

City. Spanish Colonel 

Juan Bautista de Anza 

and his troops were the 

first Europeans to come 

through Redwood City in 

1776. 

     The Spaniards created many missions, or 

churches, and presidios all along the 

California coast. A presidio is a military fort. 

They also created ranchos, or cattle ranches 

throughout California.

San Juan 

Bautista 

Mission

What Happened to the Ohlones?

     When the Spaniards arrived, the 

Ohlones lived in Redwood City. The 

Spaniards took over the land and tried 

to make the Ohlones follow the Spanish 

way of life. They made the Ohlones 

work in their missions and they tried to 

convert them to Catholicism. They tried 

to make the Ohlones believe what they 

believed. Additionally, many Ohlones 

died during this time because the 

Spaniards brought over new diseases.

Who Owned the Land?

     First the Ohlones owned the land where 

Redwood City is today. Then, the Spaniards 

came and took the land. The Spanish 

government gave the land to Don Jose Dario 

Arguello, an officer in the military. He named 

his land Rancho de las Pulgas and it included 

Redwood City, Belmont, San Carlos, Menlo Park, 

and Woodside. He used this land as a rancho, 

but when people came to this area for gold, 

they built houses and businesses on the land.

     When California became a 

state in 1850, the Arguello 

family had to try to keep their 

land. A man named Simon 

Montserrate Mezes helped them 

do just that. In return, the 

Arguello family gave him some 

of their land. Mezes named his 

town "Mezesville", but many 

people called it "Redwood". 

Who Owned the Land?

     People called the town "Redwood" because of the 

giant redwood trees that were logged, or cut down, 

from the nearby forests. Oxen would drag the logs 

down from the forests to Redwood Creek, where 

people would put them on boats to transport.

How Did 

Redwood City 

Get It's 

Name?

Redwood City Grew

     Redwood City began to grow because it had a 

port with very deep water. This meant ships could 

dock to load and unload resources, such as lumber. 

They would ship the lumber to San Francisco.

     Other goods 

that were shipped 

were shingles, hay, 

and wheat. 

     Other industries 

were shipbuilding, 

blacksmithing, and 

tanning.

     San Mateo County was created in 1856. 

Redwood City was chosen to be the county 

seat. This means that it would be the 

government center of the county!

This was the 

courthouse 

in 1883.

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