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Prior to the arrival of Spanish expeditions en route from
Mexico, peaceful tribes of Native Americans inhabited the
lush Santa Clara Valley. Under Spanish and Mexican jurisdictions,
instituted in 1778, a vast region that includes present day
Morgan Hill was one of the most substantial Spanish land grants
for nearly three quarters of a century.
In 1845 Martin Murphy, Sr. acquired 9,000 acres known as
the Rancho Ojo de Agua de la Coche. Murphy had been a leader
of the first party of pioneers to cross the Sierra Nevada
range at Truckee Pass, later to become the route for the Southern
Pacific Railroad. The Murphy family made its home in the valley
below El Toro Mountain. By 1870 Martin's seven sons and daughters
had managed to acquire more than 70,000 acres.
In 1851 the youngest son, Daniel, married Maria Fisher, heiress
to the neighboring 19,000 acre Rancho Laguna Seca. Diana,
their precocious daughter secretly married Hiram Morgan Hill
in 1882. When Daniel Murphy died, Diana inherited 4,500 acres
of their original rancho in the shadow of El Toro.
Diana and Hiram Morgan Hill built their estate, the Villa
Mira Monte, between the railroad and Monterey Road in 1886.
When the first Southern Pacific station was built in 1898,
the railroad referred to this area as Huntington. Many visitors
would request the train stop at "Morgan Hill's Ranch,"
changing the name to Morgan Hill.
By 1896 the growing community had a population of 250 with
a post office, depot, two hotels, a restaurant, and several
churches and shops. There was much controversy over the incorporation
of the city. The Times printed many editorials supporting
the issue, while those opposed were fearful of higher taxes.
But the "yes" vote won by a margin of 65-36 and
Morgan Hill became incorporated November 10, 1906. By 1909
the population rose to 1,000.
The first school was built in 1894, but was soon outgrown
and in 1907 architect William Weeks designed a new school.
By the 1920s the City was known for its agricultural products
including prunes, apricots, peaches, pears, apples, walnuts,
and almonds. The region boasted prosperous vineyards until
Prohibition demanded that production temporarily cease. Around
the 1950s Morgan Hill experienced an economic transformation
from an agricultural center to a suburban residential community.
Growth began to accelerate rapidly in the 1970s as Silicon
Valley developed and workers were attracted to Morgan Hill's
small town atmosphere, sense of community and reasonable housing
prices. On November 3, 1973 the Morgan Hill Civic Center and
library were proudly dedicated to the community of 7,000.
By 1980 the population increased to approximately 18,000 residents.
Currently, 36,000 citizens call Morgan Hill their home.
Morgan Hill is located in southern Santa Clara Valley, approximately
12 miles south of San Jose, 10 miles north of Gilroy, and
15 miles inland from the Pacific Coast. The Valley is approximately
4 miles wide and is surrounded by the Santa Cruz mountain
range to the west, and the Diablo mountain range to the east.
Parks and open spaces abound, making Morgan Hill one of the
last communities in the region with a charming, small town
atmosphere.
Source: Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce and Morgan Hill
Historical Society.
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