Gabilan (Spanish: Gabilán, meaning "Sparrow hawk") was a former settlement in Monterey County, California.[1] It was located on the Southern Pacific Railroad 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of Gonzales,[2] at an elevation of 112 feet (34 m),[1] and was situated in the foothills of the Gabilan Range. In Spanish, gavilán (gabilán is an older spelling) means "sparrow hawk".[3][4] Hawks, especially the red-tailed hawk, are common in the area.

Gabilan
Former settlement
Gabilan is located in California
Gabilan
Gabilan
Location in California
Coordinates: 36°32′48″N 121°29′39″W / 36.54667°N 121.49417°W / 36.54667; -121.49417
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyMonterey County
Elevation112 ft (34 m)

A post office operated at Gabilan (having been transferred from Alisal) from 1869 to 1883, and from 1898 to 1900.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Gabilan, California
  2. ^ Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 899. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 133.
  4. ^ Gudde, Edwin G. (2004). California place names: The origin and etymology of current geographical names. Berkeley and Los Angeles, California: University of California Press. p. 140. ISBN 0-520-24217-3.
  5. ^ Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 862. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.