Old Moraga Townsite was named for Joaquin Moraga, who in 1835 was granted 13,000 acres from the Mexican government and established Rancho Laguna de Los Palos Colorados. A Moraga townsite was conceived by A.A. Grant and J.A. Williamson in 1894. James Irvine purchased a major portion of the rancho in 1912, and the townsite was developed by R.M. Burgess. Moraga was an early dairying, farming, and ranching center.