Alvarado, California facts for kids

Alvarado was once a small town in California. It used to be called New Haven. Today, Alvarado is no longer a separate town. It is now part of Union City.

Alvarado was also very important because it was the first county seat of Alameda County. A county seat is like the main town for a county. It's where the local government offices are located. Alvarado was about 5 miles (8 km) north of downtown Newark.

The Start of New Haven

In 1851, a man named Henry C. Smith started a new town. He called it New Haven. He named it after his father's hometown, which was New Haven, Connecticut. This was a common way for early settlers to name new places.

Becoming Alvarado and a County Seat

Just two years later, in 1853, something big happened. New Haven joined together with another nearby town. This other town was called Alvarado. When they joined, the combined town took the name Alvarado.

At the same time, Alameda County was just being created. Alvarado was chosen to be the very first county seat for this new county. This meant it was the main center for the county's government. The first post office in Alvarado also opened in 1853.

Who Was Juan Alvarado?

The town of Alvarado was named after an important person. His name was Juan Alvarado. He was the Mexican Governor of California. He served as governor from 1836 to 1842. Naming towns after important leaders was a way to honor them.

Joining Union City

Alvarado continued as a town for many years. But on January 13, 1959, the people of Alvarado voted. They decided to join with another town called Decoto. Together, they formed a new, larger city. This new city was named Union City. So, Alvarado stopped being its own separate town.

Alvarado's Legacy Today

Even though Alvarado is now part of Union City, its name lives on. The New Haven Unified School District still uses the name "New Haven." This school district serves many students in the area. It helps remember the early history of the community.