With a small but stable population of approximately 14,000 residents, the history of Mill Valley is an interesting one that many locals are happy to talk about, especially since so much of its heritage spills over from nearby San Francisco.

Present day facts don’t even begin to reflect the colorful and interesting history of Mill Valley, California. Mill Valley and various towns throughout Marin County and Sonoma County represented the aboriginal lands of Native American’s known as the Coast Miwoks.

While these areas were initially inhabited by the Miwok tribes, the arrival of Spanish pioneers eventually led to the transition of these fertile lands to the Mexican government which sought to populate the area through the use of generous land grants.

The actual history of the town known as Mill Valley begins with an interesting dichotomy: the country of Mexico gave a land grant to Irish settler, John Thomas Reed, who became a Mexican citizen in 1834. John Thomas Reed utilized this generous land grant to build the first saw mill throughout all of California, which was what eventually gave the town of Mill Valley, California, its name.

While the establishment of Jon Thomas Reed’s saw mill helped to drive the initial population growth in Mill Valley by attracting settlers seeking work in the logging and lumber industry, there were other historical events which helped sustain and grow the population of this Southern Marin town. Two other noteworthy events in early history which helped to shape and expand the population of this town included the famous California gold rush which attracted opportunists seeking prosperity, followed by the introduction of the Mt. Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railroad Service which ran from Mill Valley to the top of the Mount Tamalpais.

The historical aspects of Mill Valley can still be seen by visitors and residents alike. The Mill Valley Lumber Company greets visitors entering the downtown neighborhood via Miller Avenue while remnants of the historic Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway station can still be seen within the space now occupied by the Depot Bookstore and Cafe located at 87 Throckmorton Avenue.

If you enjoy California history, be sure to visit this quaint Southern Marin town. The town offers something for everyone, whether you are a resident, tourist, or simply a curious passerby. Author Resource:- Renee Adelmann is a Mill Valley Realtor that specializes in modern homes of Marin. She offers experienced representation for buyers and sellers of Mill Valley homes as well as Mill Valley condos.

Filed under: California Real Estate