DEVIL'S ELBOW

Union City,  the first of the two to be settled came into existence in 1851, on the banks of Alameda Creek, near a point then known  as Devil's Elbow.  John M. Horner was its founder, and builder  of the first warehouse upon the banks of the creek.

Until 1878 this creek was navigable for light craft.  Horner's idea of cutting a canal across the marshes was never developed so today Devil's Elbow is a bed of sandy sediment.

Union City and Alvarado had the advantage of good lands, extensive warehouses, with steamer and schooner communications, which tended to rapidly develop the rich agricultural surrounding to the east.  History states that the sales of produce from Mr. Horner's acreage alone, one year, brought forth a revenue of $270,000.  Much of this produce went by steamer to San Francisco.