Llagas-Uvas is an unincorporated
census county division (CCD) located on the eastern side of the
Santa Cruz Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are a mountain range in central and Northern California, United States. They form a ridge down the San Francisco Peninsula, south of San Francisco. They separate the Pacific Ocean from ...
in southwest
Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County, officially the County of Santa Clara, is the sixth-most populous county in the U.S. state of California, with a population of 1,936,259, as of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Santa Clara County and neighboring Sa ...
. The area covers approximately , much of it
open space, and contains the
Uvas and
Chesbro reservoirs, as well as the
Calero,
Uvas Canyon
Uvas Canyon County Park is a natural park located in upper Uvas Canyon on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, west of Morgan Hill, California. The park has several small waterfalls, some of which flow perennially, that feed into tri ...
, Rancho Cañada del Oro, and
Mount Madonna county parks.
As a result of the favorable
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...
, there are many wineries in the area, including Dorcich Family Vineyards, Sycamore Creek, Martin Ranch, Hecker Pass, Fernwood Cellars, Fortino, Kirigin Cellars, Solis, and Sarah's Vineyard. There are also several equestrian centers in the area, including Calero Ranch Stables, Cevalo Riding Academy, Five Star Farms, Great Strides, Hidden Creek, Legacy Oaks, and Bodfish Creek Ranch.
As of the 2010 US Census, the population was 4,014 residents of whom 67.1% were non-Hispanic white, 20.1% Hispanic, 8.5% Asian, and 4.3% of other races, with a median age of 45.5 years old. As of 2009, the median income was $104,378 and median home price $991,773.
Apart from the communities of
Sveadal and
Loma Chiquita, most residents and businesses in the area use postal zip codes from neighboring cities of
Morgan Hill
Morgan Hill is a city in Santa Clara County, California, at the southern tip of Silicon Valley, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Morgan Hill is an affluent residential community, the seat of several high-tech companies, and a dining, entertainmen ...
,
San Martin, or
Gilroy. The telephone area codes are
408 and 669.
History
In Spanish, the word "uva" means "grape" and "llaga" means "wound".
The region was well known to Indian and European settlers for its abundance of wild grapes. The
Uvas Creek
Uvas Creek is a mainly southward-flowing stream originating on Loma Prieta peak of the Santa Cruz Mountains, in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The creek descends through Uvas Canyon County Park into Uvas Reservoir near Morgan Hi ...
was named after the land grant Cañada de las Uvas ("grape ravine"). This creek feeds into the Uvas Reservoir.
During the 19th century,
Mexican land grants for
Rancho Las Uvas,
Rancho Ojo del Agua de la Coche
Rancho Ojo de Agua de la Coche was a Mexican land grant in present-day Santa Clara County, California given in 1835 by Governor José Figueroa to Juan María Hernandez. The name means "pig's spring". The grant extended south from Rancho Lagu ...
,
Rancho Solis and
Rancho San Francisco de las Llagas Rancho San Francisco de las Llagas was a Mexican land grant in present-day Santa Clara County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Carlos Antonio Castro. The grant extended along Llagas Creek from about one mile south of pres ...
were allocated in the area. Rancho San Francisco de las Llagas in the northern part was named after Las Llagas de Nuestro Padre San Francisco ("the wounds of Our Father Saint Francis"). The main creek that runs through the ranch was named
Llagas Creek
Llagas Creek is a perennial stream in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The headwaters rise on the eastern side of Crystal Peak near Loma Prieta. From there, the creek flows northeast along Casa Loma Road, until it reaches Uvas Road, ...
.
In 1955, the Chesbro reservoir was formed by damming the Llagas creek, to ensure adequate water supply for the surrounding farms and growing population of nearby Morgan Hill.
Santa Clara Valley Water District: Chesbro Reservoir
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References
External links
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Unincorporated communities in Santa Clara County, California
Census county divisions in Santa Clara County, California
Unincorporated communities in California