Dougherty, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dougherty
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 Dougherty
Location in California
Dougherty
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Alameda County |
| Elevation | 348 ft (106 m) |
Dougherty was a small community in Alameda County, California. It's known by a few other names too, like Amador's and Dougherty Station. This area was never officially made into a town. It was actually linked to two different spots near Dublin. The first spot was about 348 feet (106 meters) above sea level.
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What Was Dougherty?
Dougherty refers to two different places in California. Both were named after the Dougherty family. These areas were important in the early history of Alameda County. They show how communities grew and changed over time.
The First Dougherty: A Busy Crossroads
In 1852, a man named James Witt Dougherty bought land near what is now Dublin, California. On this land was an old adobe building. This building used to belong to Jose Amador, a well-known person in the area.
A small community started to grow around this adobe building and ranch. People first called this place Amador's or Amador Valley. This was to honor Jose Amador, the original owner of the land.
James Dougherty built a hotel near the adobe. This hotel was at a very important spot. Two main roads crossed there. One road went north and south, connecting towns from Martinez to Mission San Jose. The other road went east and west. It linked the San Francisco Bay area to places like Livermore and Stockton.
The Dougherty Post Office
Because the area was growing, James Dougherty got a contract for a post office in 1860. He named it Dougherty Station. This made it easier for people to send and receive mail.
Later, in 1896, the post office name was shortened to just Dougherty. However, it didn't stay open forever. The Dougherty post office closed its doors in 1908.
The Second Dougherty: A Railroad Dream
There was a second area also called Dougherty. This spot was about two miles east of the first location. Charles Medley Dougherty, who was James Witt Dougherty's son, set up this new area. He also named it after his family.
This second Dougherty was planned to be a community. It was designed to be near a new railroad line. The Southern Pacific Railroad was extending its tracks from San Ramon to Pleasanton in the early 1900s. The idea was to have a community right next to the train.
However, this planned community might not have grown much. There was a railroad platform there, but it's possible that no homes or businesses were ever built. Even so, the name Dougherty continued to appear on some maps for many years. You might even find it on some online maps today.
