Víctor Ramón Castro was a landowner in an area of Alta California

Alta California

Alta California was a province and territory in the Viceroyalty of New Spain and later a territory and department in independent Mexico. The territory was created in 1769 out of the northern part of the former province of Las Californias, and consisted of the modern American states of California,...

 which later became part of Contra Costa County, California

Contra Costa County, California

Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025...

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Víctor Castro was the son of Francisco María Castro

Francisco María Castro

Francisco María Castro was a landowner in an area of Alta California which later became part of Contra Costa County, California.Francisco María Castro was the third son of Joaquin Ysidro de Castro, one of the founding settlers of the Pueblo of San José and Maria Marina Botiller...

, a former soldier at the San Francisco Presidio, one-time alcalde of the Pueblo of San José, and grantee of Rancho San Pablo

Rancho San Pablo

Rancho San Pablo was a land grant in present day Contra Costa County, California given in 1823 by Governor Luís Antonio Argüello to Francisco María Castro , a former soldier at the San Francisco Presidio and one-time alcalde of the Pueblo of San José. The grant was reconfirmed by Governor José...

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Víctor Castro and his brother Juan José Castro were the grantees of Rancho El Sobrante

Rancho El Sobrante

Rancho El Sobrante was a Mexican land grant in present day Contra Costa County, California given in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Juan Jose Castro and Victor Castro...

 in 1841. Víctor Castro was elected as a juez de campo (field judge) in 1840 which gave him authority over roundups and branding of cattle in the area. He was a renowned horseman and helped battle indigenous raiders who attacked other Mexican ranchos. He also warred with American immigrants who squatted

Squatting

Squatting consists of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use....

 on his land after the California Gold Rush

California Gold Rush

The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...

. Castro was a local leader in times of both peace and conflict. He remained active as a community leader after the annexation of California and was elected a Contra Costa County supervisor

Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is the governing body for the unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County, California in the San Francisco Bay Area's East Bay region. These are divided into five districts...

 in 1852.

Point Isabel promontory and Point Isabel Regional Shoreline

Point Isabel Regional Shoreline

Point Isabel Regional Shoreline in Richmond, California, operated by East Bay Regional Park District, is an award-winning park offering activities for humans as well as dogs. It also features a concession offering food for humans and grooming for pets. It has easy access for pedestrians, public...

 are named after his daughter Isabel. Castro Street, Castro Creek

Castro Creek

Castro Creek is a creek in Richmond, California in the western part of the city adjacent to the Chevron Oil Refinery. Wildcat Creek drains into it directly and though other Wildcat Marsh tributaries into Castro Cove of San Pablo Bay...

, the Castro Rocks

Castro Rocks

Castro Rocks are several rocks in Richmond, California protruding from the waters San Francisco Bay between Castro Point and Red Rock Island.The rocks lie almost directly under the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge ....

, Castro Point

Castro Point

Castro Point is a cape in western Richmond, California, United States.-History:Castro Point was once the east shore landing for the Richmond-San Rafael Car and Passenger Ferry that crossed the San Pablo Bay. It was also the western terminal for the East Shore and Suburban Railway connecting trains...

, Castro Cove

Castro Cove

Castro Cove is an embayment of the San Pablo Bay in Richmond, California between Point San Pablo and the confluence of Wildcat Creek into Castro Creek.-Overview:...

and Castro Ranch Road in Richmond are named after his family.