As a relatively new resident of Hidden Valley Lake – just since 2010 – I became interested in its history.

I believe that someone's history tells us a lot about them; and, I believe this is also true of communities.

What I discovered was that there is really no information that is readily available: Nothing on the Hidden Valley Lake Association Web site, not much anywhere on the Internet, a little in a booklet about the “Stone House” within HVL and bits and pieces from residents.

Here's what I've found so far.

Hidden Valley Lake was started in 1968 by Boise Cascade Corp. during its real estate development heyday.

Due to a variety of factors, but mostly excessive losses, Boise Cascade Corp. sold it in 1974 to the Hidden Valley Lake Association. The “Hartmann” building and the Community Center (originally the “Country Club”) were built in the late 1960s or early 1970s.

For the remainder of the 1970s and through most of the 1980s a majority of property owners did not live in Hidden Valley Lake, holding the land for investment. It fell into receivership in the late 1980s.

By the 1990s more young families began moving in, partly triggered by Hidden Valley Lake's then-inexpensive housing and partly by the desirable amenities.

To support and maintain the amenities, property assessments were instituted in the early 1990s. It again dropped into receivership in the mid 1990s.

For most of its history HVLA has been managed by a small group of residents; not only, but primarily golfers.

Somewhere in the late 1990s, apparently as association members began to realize HVLA was becoming too big and complex for them to run without outside help, they began to hire paid staff.

Since then there have been four general managers and two interim general managers. Some of these general managers had professional credentials, some did not. Two general managers were terminated rather suddenly, partly as a result of conflict with the board and/or staff. Once (about 2000) several board directors were recalled.

In 1990 the Hidden Valley Lake population was about 1,960. By 2000 it had grown to about 3,780 and by 2010 to 5,580. Current estimates are around 7,500. It is no longer a little community. It's a small city.

Although Hidden Valley Lake was originally started as a “golf community,” according to current statistics this is no longer the case. It is now largely a “family community.”

Less than 15 percent of Hidden Valley Lake residents use the golf course; less than 5 percent have memberships in the golf course.

Well, that's it, so far. I'm still trying to fill in some of the “blanks.” My next area of exploration will be the community dynamics within HVLA.

Mike Gingerich lives in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif.