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Berkeley, California is a scenic retirement community in the Bay Area.

Berkeley CA History

When Europeans arrived in the late 1700’s, Berkeley was inhabited by the Huichin tribe of native American Indians who had been living on the coast of California for 3,000 years. In 1776, Spaniards established Mission Dolores, which recruited Huichin converts. As a result, the Indians contracted European diseases and their deaths soared. By 1820, there were no native people left in Berkeley.

In 1820, Don Luis Peralta received Rancho San Antonio, a 48,000-acre Spanish grant. In 1842, Don Luis divided the rancho among his four sons. Domingo Peralta received the northern-most portion where Berkeley, Albany and most of Emeryville now stand.

In 1852, U.S. law required recipients of Spanish and Mexican land grants to prove legal ownership of their land. After 25 years of litigation, the Peraltas triumphed on all counts regarding ownership and boundaries. However, to pay legal expenses throughout the years, Domingo Peralta eventually sold most of his land at bargain rates and died in poverty. Though they won the legal battle, by 1877 the Peraltas controlled almost nothing of the original land grant.

In 1877, a community of blue collar workers lived in west Berkeley and a community of professionals lived in east Berkeley, where the state college was built. On April 1, 1878, the two communities joined to incorporate the city of Berkeley.

Berkeley California – Well Known University Town

Today, the city is best known as the site of the University of California at Berkeley. Because of its great location and weather, Berkeley California is very popular with senior travelers and retirees looking for the ideal community.