Nipomo and Los Berros (Images of America)

Nipomo, Chumash for "at the foot of the hills," and Los Berros, Spanish for "watercress," comprise an important Central Coast area that is often overlooked by history. First established by Chumash Indians and then formally recognized in 1837 in the form of a 38,000-acre land grant from the Mexican government, the area evolved into a hidden national treasure. What started with a ranch owned by William Goodwin Dana and his wife, Maria Josefa Carrillo, quickly spread and became vast farmlands. With the arrival of the railroad and the immigration of workers, unique local goods found their way across the country and trade networks connected the region to the rest of the world. Much of this legacy still stands and can be found today if you know where to look.