Amador Valley facts for kids

The Amador Valley is a beautiful valley located in eastern Alameda County, California. It's home to the cities of Dublin and Pleasanton. This valley is surrounded by the lower hills of the Diablo Range to the north and south. To the west, you'll find Pleasanton Ridge, and to the east is the Livermore Valley.

Waterways of Amador Valley

Many streams and creeks flow into the Amador Valley. These include South San Ramon Creek, Tassajara Creek, Arroyo Mocho, Arroyo Valle, and Arroyo Las Positas. Water also runs off from Pleasanton Ridge. All these waters eventually flow south through a creek called Arroyo de la Laguna. This creek then connects to Alameda Creek, and finally, the water reaches the San Francisco Bay.

History of Amador Valley

A long time ago, the Amador Valley was mostly marshland. It had many tall plants called tules and lots of willow trees. A large body of water called Tulare Lake was right in the middle of it.

During the 1800s, when people from Europe and America started settling here, they changed the marshland. It became much smaller, turning into just the Arroyo de la Laguna creek we know today. The valley got its name from José María Amador. He was a local rancher who settled nearby in a place called Rancho San Ramon in 1834.