The Santa Clara Valley showcased a long history of development and growth as Native American tribes peacefully inhabited the land before the Spanish arrival in 1778. The Murphy family’s large land grants paired with Daniel Murphy’s marriage to Maria Fisher allowed their Morgan Hill ranch to extend up from El Toro Mountain, leading to the inception and incorporation of the town of Morgan Hill in 1906.
The Santa Clara Valley was a thriving area for more than 6,000 years, with peaceful Native American tribes inhabiting the land before Spanish expeditions reached the region in 1778. Such an expedition by Martin Murphy, Sr. was the first party of pioneers to cross the Sierra Nevada range, and they acquired 9,000 acres known as the Rancho Ojo de Agua de la Coche. As time passed, the Murphy family’s 70,000 acres spanned the valley beneath El Toro Mountain, making them one of the most substantial Spanish land grant holders that lasted nearly three-quarters of a century.
In 1851, the youngest Murphy son, Daniel, married Maria Fisher, heiress to the neighboring 19,000-acre Rancho Laguna Seca. This union allowed the family’s land to grow even more, expanding to 4,500 acres and becoming known as the Morgan Hill Ranch when their daughter Diana secretly married Hiram Morgan Hill in 1882. To mark this momentous occasion, the couple built their country estate, Villa Mira Monte, between the railroad and Monterey Road in 1884. When the 1st Southern Pacific station was built in 1898, the area became known as Huntington but changed its name to Morgan Hill in 1906 after many visitors requested the train stop at “Morgan Hill’s Ranch.” This proud and positive history of the Murphy family is still alive today in the Santa Clara Valley.
After much controversy and debate, the citizens of Morgan Hill voted to incorporate in 1906, and by 1909 had grown to a population of 1,000.
From humble beginnings, the city quickly began to flourish. The first school was built in 1894, and by 1907 two more schools had been constructed to accommodate the growing population. In 1924, renowned architect William H. Weeks designed and built a new grammar school, demonstrating Morgan Hill’s commitment to educational and economic growth. By the 1920s, Morgan Hill had developed a reputation for its agricultural products such as prunes, apricots, peaches, pears, apples, walnuts, and almonds, providing employment opportunities and further strengthening the economy. Even during Prohibition when vineyards had to temporarily cease production, Morgan Hill remained an increasingly prosperous city.
This period of transformation culminated in the proud dedication of the Morgan Hill Civic Center and library in 1973 when the city had grown to 7,000 citizens. By 1980, the population had nearly tripled to 18,000, and by the 2000 census, a remarkable 33,000 people were calling Morgan Hill their home.
Located in the southern Santa Clara Valley, Morgan Hill is an idyllic and picturesque community of approximately 4 miles wide, nestled between the majestic Santa Cruz mountain range to the west, and the Diablo mountain range to the east. The city is conveniently situated just 12 miles south of San Jose, 10 miles north of Gilroy, and 15 miles inland from the Pacific Coast, offering residents access to a variety of recreational activities, parks, and open spaces. This charming small-town atmosphere has made Morgan Hill one of the last remaining communities in the region to experience this unique and special quality of life.
Among Morgan Hill’s many treasured landmarks is Villa Mira Monte, the only remaining vestige of the original Morgan Hill Ranch. As a National Registered Historical Landmark, it is proudly preserved as a historical park for generations to come. The grounds, located at 17860 Monterey Road, feature the original 1884 Hiram Morgan Hill House, the 1911 Morgan Hill Museum (formerly the Acton House), and the 2006 Centennial History Trail. This public park is open from dawn to dusk at no charge, with docent-led tours available for those seeking more information about the site. To learn more, please visit the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce and Morgan Hill Historical Society’s website.
Morgan Hill and the Santa Clara Valley have been filled with an impressive history dating back to 6,000 years ago given early Native American tribes habitated the land. What started as a 9,000- ac rancho andtheMurphy family who later acquired 70,000 acres, is now widely known as Morgan Hill thanks to the union between Maria Fiber of Rancho Laguna Seca, and Daniel Murphy in 1851 that eventually cultivated 4,500 acres later called Villa Mira Monge. After 1900, the views and positive buzz around the region inspired its residents and visitors enough to vote and proclaim Morgan Hill an official city in Plesant common voters Freud generally 1906, which is a living presence today through physical structures and corporate regions admirably rooted from its local beginnings.
