Historic Los Gatos
One of the first things that catch the attention of newcomers to Los Gatos is the town’s seamless blending of the old and the new. While being closely linked to the technological innovations and economy of Silicon Valley, Los Gatos has also retained more than a few reminders of its past as a mill, timber and railroad town. Some of the most distinctive pieces of Los Gatos property come with their own histories.
Take a stroll downtown and you’ll see many a Los Gatos property that dates back to the 19th and early 20th centuries. The community is proud of its rich heritage and takes great pains to preserve it, as evinced by the existence of a Historic Preservation Committee. The downtown area is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the Los Gatos Historic Commercial District.
Though it was officially incorporated in 1887, Los Gatos had already been in existence for decades as a rancho called La Rinconada de Los Gatos (Cat’s Corner). Considered to be one of the oldest communities in Santa Clara County, it is widely acknowledged that the town gets its name from the many mountain lions that frequented Los Gatos Creek when the rancho was first established.
From a ranch, Los Gatos evolved into a mill and logging town whose economy was strengthened by the advent of the railway. The train brought visitors from all over the country, including John Steinbeck, Jack London and the elite of nearby San Francisco, turning Los Gatos into a resort town. The main Los Gatos property type at this time was agricultural – orchards used to blanket the area, some of which still exist to this day.
Today, Los Gatos is a dynamic community that values its historic roots and knows the importance of retaining its own unique identity.
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