Livermore Celebrates 150th Birthday

LIVERMORE, CA — Livermore celebrated its 150th birthday Wednesday, and the city said it will celebrate its sesquicentennial with events every weekend throughout June.

"It's a moment that invites us to reflect on the generations who built this community and the incredible impact our city has had far beyond its borders. From being California's oldest wine‑growing region, to becoming the namesake for an element on the periodic table (Livermorium), to carrying on traditions like the World's Fastest Rodeo, Livermore's history is rich, diverse, and uniquely ours," the city said in a statement.

Livermore was once home a series of grasslands, creeks, and rolling hills home to the indigenous Ohlone people. Under Mexican rule, the land was divided up into large ranch grants owned by a few families. After California joined the United States in the 1840s, a small agricultural town began to grow, and was named after rancher Robert Livermore. Crops, railroads, and stage routes made it an important stop in the East Bay.

In the late 19th century, Livermore Valley became one of California's earliest wine regions. Wineries like Wente Vineyards and Concannon Vineyard opened in the 1880s, and are still going strong today.

In the 1950s, the federal government opened Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and a campus of Sandia National Laboratories.

Today, Livermore represents a fascinating mix of cutting-edge scientific research, world-class wineries, jaw-dropping open space, a famous rodeo, a historic downtown with a vibrant arts and restaurant scene, and much more.

The city said it would be sharing more details of its 150th anniversary celebrations in coming weeks.