Called Carmichael Colony No. I, the 2,000 acres was once part of the 20,000 acre Rancho San Juan Mexican grant made to Joel P. Dedmond in 1844. The colony’s boundaries were Lincoln Avenue to the north, San Juan Avenue to the east, The American River and Deterting Ranch (now Ancil Hoffman Park) to the south and Fair Oaks Boulevard to the west.
Carmichael later bought another 1,000 acres that he called Carmichael Colony No. 2. It bordered the first colony to the east and Walnut Avenue to the west; the southern boundary was Arden Way with Sutter Avenue to the north. This new territory was previously part of the 44,000 acre Del Paso Rancho Mexican grant made to Eliab Grimes, in 1844. Before Carmichael acquired it, James Ben, Ali Haggin, and his Daniel Carmichael associates bred and raised racehorses, including Kentucky Derby winner Salvatore, on a farm located where Del Dayo Estates now stands.

Carmichael laid out the two colonies into 10 acre tracts and sold them for $1,500 each.

Daniel W. Carmichael born in 1867 in Atlanta, Georgia came to California in 1885. After a decade spent at various jobs such as ranching and bookkeeping, he organized the real estate firm of Curtis, Carmichael and Brand. This business, established in 1895 in the City of Sacramento,