Travel Guide for Castro Valley

The officer in the Mexican army, driven to ruin by squatters, drought, and gambling debts, bequeathed his name to the crescent-shaped basin once known as Castro's Valley. He sold a portion of his cattle ranch to Methodist minister Zachariah Hughes, who built a church and school in what is now Crow Canyon. The one-room, redwood school Hughes christened Eden Vale educated about 50 children until a group from the burgeoning town to the south, "Hayward's," stole it by wagon in the dead of night. Undaunted, Castro Valley, delineated from its now friendly neighbors by hills, Lake Chabot, and an independent spirit, built and fully supported its own Redwood School. It has now developed into one of the most populous unincorporated areas in the United States.

The crescent-shaped basin, once known as Castro's Valley, received its name from an officer in the Mexican army. This officer, plagued by the ruin brought upon him by squatters, drought, and gambling debts, made the decision to sell a portion of his cattle ranch to Methodist minister Zachariah Hughes. In the area now known as Crow Canyon, Hughes constructed a church and school, which he christened Eden Vale. This one-room, redwood schoolhouse educated approximately 50 children until a group from the nearby town of "Hayward's" stole it, transporting it away by wagon in the dead of night.

Undeterred by this setback, the resilient community of Castro Valley, distinguished from its now amicable neighbors by the surrounding hills, Lake Chabot, and a spirit of independence, built and fully supported their own Redwood School. Over time, Castro Valley has evolved into one of the most populous unincorporated areas within the United States.

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