San Carlos celebrates 100 years with yearlong centennial events, tracing its history from Ohlone stewardship to Silicon Valley suburb

Presenter (Speaker 1) opened a centennial presentation for San Carlos by calling the city the "City of Good Living" and outlining a century of change, from indigenous stewardship to the modern suburban community that marks its 100th anniversary in 2025. The presentation combined historical overview with highlights from yearlong centennial events and a forward-looking list of initiatives.

The speaker said the land that is now San Carlos was long occupied by the Lamchin, a subgroup of the Ohlone, who lived along creeks and hillsides and subsisted on acorns, berries and fishing. The talk traced Spanish-era land grants and noted that the origin of the name "San Carlos" is uncertain; possibilities mentioned include a Spanish king, a saint’s feast day or a ship called the San Carlos. The presentation cited the Arguello family as early landholders and recounted 19th-century land transfers that shaped the town’s early development.

Rail service and a depot played a central role in growth, speakers said. The arrival of the railroad in the 1860s and a locally built depot…