Livermore Valley facts for kids

The Livermore Valley is a beautiful valley in Alameda County, California. It's part of the East Bay area. Long ago, it was known as the Valle de San José, which means "Valley of San José." The city of Livermore is right in the middle of this valley.

What is the Livermore Valley Like?

The Livermore Valley is surrounded by mountains called the Diablo Range on its north, east, and south sides. To the west, it connects with the Amador Valley.

Several streams flow through the Livermore Valley. These include Arroyo Mocho, Arroyo Valle, Arroyo Seco, and Arroyo Las Positas.

Wine Country Fun

The southern part of Livermore Valley is famous for its wine country. This means there are many vineyards and wineries here. Some well-known wineries include Wente Vineyards and Concannon Vineyards. They make delicious wines!

Cool Science Labs

In the eastern part of Livermore, you'll find some very important science places. One is the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. Did you know that a special element on the periodic table, called Livermorium (Element 116), is named after this lab?

Another big science lab nearby is Sandia Laboratory. Because of the important work done at these labs, some parts of eastern Livermore are closed to the public for safety and security reasons.

A Look Back: History of Livermore Valley

The Livermore Valley got its name from Robert Livermore. He was an American rancher who moved to Mexican Alta California. Starting in 1834, he and his business partner, José Noriega, raised animals in the valley.

In 1839, the governor, Juan Bautista Alvarado, gave Livermore and Noriega a special land grant called Rancho Las Positas. This grant covered the whole valley.

Later, in 1847, Noriega and Livermore bought more land. This was Rancho Cañada de los Vaqueros, which was next to the Livermore Valley in the Diablo Range.

Robert Livermore became quite famous during the California Gold Rush in the late 1840s and early 1850s. He had an inn at his ranch house in the valley. This inn was a popular stop for miners and other travelers. They were heading east from the Bay Area through the Diablo Range passes to the gold fields in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Because of Robert Livermore's well-known inn, the valley started to be called by his name. Even a mountain pass, now known as Altamont Pass, was once called Livermore Pass. This pass led to Stockton and the gold fields.

Images for kids

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  Vineyards in the Livermore Valley