Originally inhabited by the Miwok Native Americans, the first pioneers arrived sometime in the mid-1800s seeking better farming lands, gold, and riches. Historians believe the first settler arrived as early as 1835, however, records are extremely sketchy, and this assumption is made based on circumstantial evidence. The first known land purchase, which was recorded, occurred in 1850. The settlement slowly grew from that point in time. However, in the late 1800s, a now-defunct railroad laid down tracks from San Francisco to northern California, bypassing the town. All traffic that would entice new travelers into putting down stakes virtually stopped. The growth essentially stagnated, and even today, Tomales isn’t much larger than it was in the late 1800s.