City of Concord history

In 1828, Don Salvio Pacheco, whose ancestors were soldier-colonists with Anza, petitioned the Mexican government for lands in the valley.

A land grant, called Monte del Diablo, was made in 1834 to Don Salvio Pacheco.

1860’s: Todos Santos Town Established

In 1868, they arranged for a town plan to be surveyed for them on the bluffs near Don Salvio’s adobe at the center of their Rancho.

Over the next two decades, with the establishment of the State Prison in 1878, West Concord rapidly developed as the most populous section of town.

1880’s: Initial Commercial Growth

Second church, First Presbyterian, opens near corner of Galindo and Pacheco Streets in 1883.

American school, first public building, established on Grant Street (demolished in 1892). First (of 13) saloons opens.

Odd Fellows Hall (IOOF) building moved from Pacheco to site on corner of Salvio and Colfax Streets in 1896.

1900’s: Offically “Concord” and Residential Expansion Occurs

Town of Concord officially incorporated with State (1905). Blacksmith Joseph Boyd becomes first mayor.

In the east-central region is the Trans-Sierra desert, which extends along the sheer east escarpment of the Sierra Nevada range and comprises part of the vast interstate Great Basin of the Basin and Range Province. Its largest towns are in the Owens Valley, which was a fertile farmland until its groundwater flow was diverted to Los Angeles through a mammoth series of conduits built in 1908–13.

Concord chartered as a California City (1948). Concord-area population grows from approximately 1,500 to approximately 10,000.

Ruth Galindo, a fourth generation descendant of the original owners, retained ownership in the family until her death in 1999.

Concord has a diverse population approaching 125,000, and in the year 2000 was the largest city in Contra Costa County.