Historical Marker · No. 503
First County Court House
Union City, Alameda County · California
Erected by California State Park Commission; Alameda County Parlors, Native Sons and Daughters of the Golden West, 1953
The county was the storekeeper's idea. Henry C. Smith, founder of New Haven, presented the petition for a new county in the State Assembly on March 10, 1853, and when its seat was chosen his town beat Horace Carpentier's Oakland, 19 to 17 by one local history's count. New Haven merged with Alvarado that year, and county government met in an upstairs room of the store Smith kept with A. M. Church. The county's voters moved the seat to San Leandro; the 1868 Hayward earthquake wrecked the courthouse there, and the seat eventually went north to Oakland.
What the plaque says
First County Court House Site first court house where Alameda County government began, June 6, 1853. Officials met in two-story wooden building erected by Henry C. Smith and A. M. Church as merchandise store. Seat of government moved to San Leandro in 1856, following vote of people of county in December 1854. State Registered Landmark No. 503 Tablet provided by California State Park Commission Base furnished by Alameda County Parlors of Native Sons and Daughters Golden West Dedicated June 6, 1953
Where it stands
37.59667, -122.08110 · Directions
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