Spanish priests and native Ohlone Indians founded a mission in the Fremont area in 1797. Pioneer John Fremont, for whom the city is named, was apparently so taken with the mission that he offered to buy the adjacent property on which to build his house. The gold rush transformed the mission-based trade and agricultural outpost into a boisterous supply stop for miners, and the use of salt to extract silver from the Comstock Lode led to the development of salt production facilities along San Francisco Bay. Learn More...