In 1869 the villages of "La Patera", at the present day Fairview and Hollister Avenue intersection, and "Goleta" near Patterson and Hollister Avenues, began. A post office was established at Goleta in 1875 placing the name "Goleta" officially on the landscape. This name was probably picked because of the La Goleta land grant. (The word "Goleta" is Spanish for small ship or schooner.) The post office was moved to La Patera in 1936, bringing with it the Goleta name and changing the town location to the western end of Hollister Avenue.