1899 Map of Palo Alto

South of the bay flats, the terrain rises sharply into the Monte Bello Ridge and the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Significant land grants like La Purisima Concepcion and Pastoria de las Borregas persist as major geographic divisions, reflecting the region's transition from pastoral ranchos to an academic and agricultural hub. To the southeast, smaller settlements such as Old Mountain View and Saratoga anchor the landscape near the productive springs of Azule and Congress Springs.