Press Releases
City of Gonzales Celebrating 75th Anniversary of Incorporation with Proclamation and Community Celebrations Throughout 2022
The City of Gonzales was incorporated on January 10, 1947 and on January 18, 2022 celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the city's incorporation by adopting a proclamation to honor the rich history of Gonzales.
In addition to the proclamation the Anniversary Planning Committee, comprised of Councilmember Liz Silva, Councilmember Lorraine Worthy, Director of Community Engagement Carmen Gil, Public Works Director Patrick Dobbins, Maury Treleven, and Candice Camacho, has planned several events for the community to celebrate the anniversary throughout 2022.
The following events are planned thus far: April 2, 2022: Parade along Fourth Street with car show, July 2, 2022: In partnership with Gonzales Rotary Club, a 7.5K Run/Walk, October 2022: "Coming Home Jubilee", an event tied with Gonzales High School homecoming
75th Anniversary T-shirts and bumper stickers are currently available for purchase at city hall.
The City of Gonzales has a rich history. The Southern Pacific Railroad laid tracks through the area in 1872, and later a depot was built to service freight and passenger trains. In 1874, Mariano and Alfredo Gonzalez planned the original town, consisting of 50 blocks on land originally deeded to their father, Teodoro Gonzalez, in 1836. Twenty years later in 1894, the earliest recorded population was 500 residents.
Cattle and grain raising dominated the area until the 1890s when Swiss immigrants founded dairies. At the turn of the century, the Alpine Condensery was established to produce condensed milk, a process originated by a local resident. In the 1920s dairy farming gave way to vegetable crops which thrived because of rich soils and advancements in irrigation, machinery, and transportation.
The first schoolhouse was built in 1874. The Gonzales Baptist Church was built in 1884 and still holds weekly worship services at the corner of Fourth and Day Streets. Today, historic buildings still stand on Fourth Street in downtown Gonzales and contribute to the city's small town charm that is enjoyed by residents and visitors. Gonzales is now a town of approximately 8,500 residents who continue to honor its small-town charm and who pride themselves on living the Gonzales Way – through Love, Care and Connection.
For more information about the celebration of events throughout 2022 visit the city's website https://gonzalesca.gov/ or call 831.675.5000.