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The history of the Diablo community cannot be separated from that of the Mountain.  Diablo came into being because of the influence the Mountain exerted on all who saw it, especially the early Spanish Dons.

Before California's gold rush days of '49, Green Valley ~ now the location of Diablo and Diablo Country Club ~ was a rancho owned by Spanish Dons.  It was a part of the original Spanish grant covering the vast area at the foot of Mt. Diablo.  Father Juan Crespi and Captain Don Pedro Fages, Governor 1782-91, visited Green Valley in 1782 and climbed Mt. Diablo.  Their view from the summit gave the Spanish their first glimpse of the beauty and potential of Green Valley.  The Balgone Native Americans lived in the mountain forests.  From its peak they viewed the great central valley, San Francisco Bay, the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, Half Dome in Yosemite, Mount Lassen and Mount Whitney.  From its peak, they also viewed their enemies.

Their enemies were mainly Spanish soldiers plundering for riches.  In 1806, the two sides fought a fierce battle near Green Valley.  In the heat of the conflict, a great chieftain bedecked in war paint and hawk feathers, appeared on the mountain above the warring Balgones.  He turned the tide of battle, driving back the invading Spaniards.  According to Native American tradition, this super-human  leader was "Puy" or "Spirit of the Mountain".  In their exasperation in defeat, the Spaniards soldiers translated "Puy" as "Devil" or "El Diablo".  And so the name became Mt. Diablo.

Early settlers realized the importance of the mountain as a starting point for surveys.  As early as 1851 government surveyors used the summit as a base meridian.  A toll road was built to the top in 1873 and a 16 room hotel, Mountain House, was erected about a mile from the summit.  The road was opened in 1915 and public spirited individuals and organizations began clamoring to have "Devil Mountain" become a State Park. In 1931 the crown of Mt. Diablo and the west and south slopes were acquired by the State for $168,000.  Eventually, the park would offer recreational facilities for overnight camping, barbeques, horseback riding, hiking and nature studies.

Settlers looking for prime ranchland were also attracted to the Devil Mountain.  Among them was William Cameron who began buying acreage for a large ranch in Green Valley in 1873.  Several railroad companies also purchased various parcels.  In time a single owner emerged.  It was the Central Pacific Railroad, whose "Big Four" were well-known...Charles Crocker, Mark Hopkins, Collis Huntington and Leland Stanford.   They appointed David Colton to manage the ranch and he was given Mark Hopkins' share.  In time he bought the shares of Crocker, Huntington and Stanford.  These "10,000 shares" became known as the "Railroad Ranch".Colton died in a horse accident in 1878 and his daughter, Caroline and her husband, Dan Cook, inherited the property! Seth Cook, Dan's brother, installed a racetrack and changed the name from Railroad ranch to Oakwood Stock Farm.  (By today's reckoning, the racetrack was located between the 16th fairway on the east, Cameo Acres on the west and the 14th and 15th fairways on the north.  The 'Ole' racetrack was remembered for the green patch in the center.  This was the vegetable garden that was maintained by a Club gardener and supplied the fresh produce to the Club kitchen.) 

The lush setting dominated by Mt. Diablo offered temperate weather, a railroad and proximity to major cities, all of which contributed to making this area an ideal place for recreational living.  To a man of vision, the development of a small secluded community and a country club seemed promising...enters R. N. Burgess!