Orinda Historical Society

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

When E.I. de Laveaga began constructing Orinda Village in the mid 1920s, he gave all the streets beautiful Spanish names. Do you know them all?

A

Alta Vista — View from the heights
Arbolado — Woodland
Ardilla — Squirrel
Arroyo — Brook
Avenida de Orinda — Orinda Avenue

B

Bien Venida — Welcome
Bonita — Beautiful
Buena Vista — Good View

C

Canon — Ravine
Camino de Encinas — Road of Live Oaks
Camino del Diablo — Devil’s Highway
Camino El Ribero — Road of the Dam
Camino Pablo — Paul’s Road
Camino Lenada — Shady Road
Cielo — Sky
Cresta Blanca — White Peak

D

Del Valle — of the Valley
Descanso — Rest
Dias Dorado — Golden Days
Dos Osos — Two Bears
Dos Posos — Two Wells

E

El Caminito — The Little Road
El Campanero — The Bell Ringer
El Dorado — The Gilded
El Gavilan — The Hawk
El Patio — The Courtyard
El Pulgar — The Thumb
El Rincon — The Corner
El Sueno — The Dream
El Sereno — Place of Calm
El Toyonal — The Toyon or Christmas Berry

L

La Bolsita — The Little Pocket
La Campana — the Bell
La Cintilla — The Ribbon
La Cuesta — The Slope
La Encinial — The Live Oak Grove
La Espiral — The Spiral
La Madronal — The Madrone Tree
La Noria — The Well Draw
La Plaza — The Square
La Puenta — The Bridge
La Punta — The Point
La Senda — The Path
La Vuelta — The Turn
Las Aromas — Sweet Smells
Las Aquilas — The Eagles
Las Cascadas — The Waterfalls
Las Florres — The Flowers
Las Mesas — The High Flat Lands
Las Piedras — The Rocks
Las Palomas — The Doves
Las Vegas — The Fields
Las Venados — The Deer
Linda Vista — Beautiful View
Lomas Cantadas — Singing Hills
Los Altos — The Heights
Los Arboles — The Trees
Los Conejos — The Rabbits
Los Dedos — The Fingers
Los Parajos — The Birds

M

Madera — Wood
Manzanita — Little Apple
Mariposa — Butterfly
Mira Flores — View of the Flowers
Mira Loma — View of the Hill
Miramonte — Looks at Mountain
Monte Vista — View of the Mountain

R

Rio Vista — View of the River

V

Vallecito — Little Valley
Via Farallon — Cliff Road
Via Floreada — The Flowered Way
Vida Descansada —Life of Weariness
Via Hermosa — Beautiful Road