Check Out Moraga and Lafayette!

Moraga

Tucked away in the hills south of Lafayette and Orinda, Moraga shares a common bond of ancestry and affluence with its neighbors while maintaining a large measure of independence. The town is named for Joaquin Moraga, the first Commandant of the Presidio of San Francisco. Moraga offers a unique blending of fine residential areas, two neighborhood shopping centers, and open hillsides where cattle graze and horses are pastured. There is no industry. Ninety percent of Moraga's residents are corporate executives who commune to the major business centers of the Bay Area.

History
The town of Moraga is named for Joaquin Moraga, who was second in command of the Anza Expedition to California in 1776. He resigned from the military in 1819, and he received a 13,316 land grant from the Mexican government in 1835. His adobe home, built on a knoll in Orinda above Miramonte High School is the oldest building in Contra Costa County. This adobe has been added to and remodeled over the years, and is a private home. The Moraga Ranch was a cattle ranch. Life at the adobe was successful and comfortable. When California became a state in 1850, all the Spanish and Mexican land grants had to be confirmed by the federal government. This was difficult for the Moragas, as they spoke no English and were illiterate. The trial to prove the validity of their Mexican deeds, located in San Francisco, took years, and was costly. It had to be paid for with land. The deed proved valid, however a dishonest land-hungry attorney from Oakland used all his legal knowledge and obtained ownership of the Rancho by 1886. The naïve Moragas had lost their Rancho.

After 1912, The Moraga Company was formed by James Irvine, who purchased the bulk of the Rancho. They planted many acres of pears and walnut trees, and grazed cattle on the hills. The Company also sold land to developers and subdivided some of the land. The town site of Moraga was established in 1913. Most of the homes, roads and businesses in present day Moraga were built since 1960. Moragans have banded together to keep developers from over building and changing the aspect of a peaceful rural community. Moragans are proud of their commitment to keeping Moraga such a special place.

To find out more about Moraga, click here.

LaFayette

History
Twenty-seven cents an acre. That is what Elam Brown paid for Lafayette back in 1847! Elam established Lafayette's first industries when he installed a horse-drawn grist mill, then a steam mill on Lafayette Creek. Lafayette remained a pastoral community until 1936, when the new tunnel was bored to allow easy access from Oakland and San Francisco. The wagon road was widened into broad Mt. Diablo Boulevard, and Lafayette adopted a French Sister City (Langeac) and built a hotel with a French theme. With the erection of a statue of the Marquis de Lafayette in the Plaza Park, the town's image continues to change from its Spanish/ Mexican origins through a western settlement to a French country place.

Lafayette is centrally located in Contra Costa, with good access to freeways and public transportation. The population in Lafayette is not expected to grow because there is very little space to grow in. This makes Lafayette a stable community.

The town has a wide variety of physicians and dentists. Area hospitals are located in Oakland, Berkeley, Walnut Creek and Concord.

The Lafayette Community Center offers a variety of activities for all Lafayette residents - from preschoolers through older adults. Lafayette's Senior Center is at the Community Center, and offers program, activities and special events such as dancing, bridge, movies, yoga, line dancing, walking, exercise classes, fabulous trips and Hawaiian dancing. The Lafayette Concours is an antique and classic car show that has gained the reputation as the best in its field.

The Lafayette Reservoir Recreation Area offers hiking, fishing, boating and group picnic areas. The reservoir is stocked with trout and has several small fishing piers, and rowboat and paddle boat rentals. An aquarium, maps, brochures and photographs can be found at the visitors center.

For more detailed information of Lafayette, see the Chamber of Commerce or City Information