Q 01/05

Oakland is the seat of which California county?

A) Alameda

B) Contra Costa

C) Marin

D) San Mateo

Answer · why

A) Alameda

With about 440,000 people it is the eighth most populous city in the state.

Q 02/05

Which Native people were the earliest known inhabitants of the Oakland area?

A) The Pomo

B) The Ohlone

C) The Chumash

D) The Miwok

Answer · why

B) The Ohlone

They were concentrated around Lake Merritt and Temescal Creek.

Q 03/05

Oakland's name comes from 'encinal', a Spanish word meaning what?

A) Sandy shore

B) Little bay

C) Oak grove

D) High meadow

Answer · why

C) Oak grove

The Peralta family's Rancho San Antonio covered the area in the Spanish and Mexican eras.

Q 04/05

Which lawyer tricked Vicente Peralta into signing a 'lease' that was really a mortgage and became Oakland's first mayor?

A) Francis Smith

B) Andrew Moon

C) Edson Adams

D) Horace Carpentier

Answer · why

D) Horace Carpentier

A scandal ended his mayorship in less than a year.

Q 05/05

In which year was the Town of Oakland incorporated?

A) 1869

B) 1852

C) 1846

D) 1861

Answer · why

B) 1852

It had 75 to 100 inhabitants, two hotels, a wharf and cattle trails at the time.