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I always assumed these hills used to have denser forests of oaks that have since been thinned out for cattle grazing, why you have cities named like “Oak Land”.
by devmunchies 7y ago
I always assumed these hills used to have denser forests of oaks that have since been thinned out for cattle grazing, why you have cities named like “Oak Land”.
The central valley used to be covered in oaks, especially near rivers, but they’re almost all gone.
- CalRobert 7y agoSomehow I never considered the etymology of Oakland. Funny how it's right in front of you your whole life... Similarly I was in Spanish class one day and thought "oh, ventana sounds like 'viento'" when I realized "WAIT A MINUTE Window is a wind hole!" - never would have thought of that in English I suspect.