Hill Valley (Back to the Future)



Hill Valley, California, is the fictional setting for the Back to the Future trilogy of films. In addition to the main plot, the series of films are well-known for the many sight gags, verbal innuendos and detailed set design, from which fans attempt to reconstruct a detailed and consistent history and geography of the area. Much of the popularity of the series of films is due to the multiple times that fans may watch the films and still discover subtle gags that they hadn't noticed before.

Construction
For Back to the Future, the producers wanted to film the town square scenes in a real city. But they soon realized there would be to much work to convert the city to 1955, and decided to save money by filming it on the backlot, where they had more control.


 * The Universal Studios Backlot location: google maps, Live Local

For Back to the Future Part III, Hill Valley 1885 was filmed in Sonora, California. The producers were able to use the land rent free as long as they left the buildings. They agreed to leave everything except the Clock Tower. Interestingly, in 1995 a lightning bolt struck the town and it burned down. The back lot in which all the other time periods were filmed also burnt down because of a security guard.

Early settlement
The town of Hill Valley was first settled in 1850 and was incorporated in 1865. By the 1880s, it was connected by railroad to San Francisco. Construction of a new county courthouse was well underway in 1885, the year a new clock was dedicated for the building. The Shonash Ravine Bridge was completed in the Summer of 1886, around the same time the ravine was renamed the Eastwood Ravine Bridge (or Clayton Ravine Bridge, depending upon which timeline one focuses upon).

Rise and fall of town square
The area around the courthouse was developed in the following seventy years and by the 1950s had become the downtown of Hill Valley. A grass-covered town square was built in front of the courthouse, while stores, theatres and cafés opened on the surrounding streets. On Saturday, November 12 1955, at 10:04 p.m. PST, lightning struck the courthouse's clock tower, freezing the clock at 10:04. The clock was never repaired and as it became a landmark of Hill Valley over the years, it was preserved in its non-functional state by the Hill Valley Preservation Society.

A few decades later, many of the town square businesses moved or closed down. The new businesses which replaced them included second-hand shops and adult book stores. The courthouse fell into a state of disrepair, while at night homeless people slept on the town square park benches.

By the 21st century, the downtown area had experienced a revival as the courthouse was converted into the Courthouse Mall. Businesses began to move back into and around the town square and the grassy park was converted into a pond. The clock on top of the courthouse was still preserved at 10:04 due to the continuous efforts of the Hill Valley Preservation Society.

Alternate history
In Back to the Future Part II, a nightmarish alternate history of Hill Valley is depicted. Due to the influence of the powerful and corrupt Biff Tannen, gambling was legalized in 1979. Tannen's toxic waste reclamation plants were built downtown, polluting the air and leading to pollution alerts to be issued. Tannen also bought off the police. Consequently, crime increased and biker gangs settled in the city. Hill Valley's public school burned down and the courthouse was converted into Biff Tannen's Pleasure Paradise Casino and Hotel.

Location
Hill Valley is located in Northern California, 12 miles east of Grass Valley, and with railway links to San Francisco. The town is nestled in rolling foothills, and, according to Back to the Future III, although there is a desert within walking distance of the town, the nearby lake freezes over in the winter.

Recurring places
Many family businesses are passed down from generation to generation in Hill Valley. As a result, the city changes but remains similar from one generation to the next, as businesses are updated but rarely change. The following is a list of such places. When a place is not seen or mentioned in a movie, it is marked unknown.

1885

 * 1) Hill Valley Courthouse & Clock Tower (under construction)
 * 2) Palace Saloon
 * 3) Nothing
 * 4) Nothing
 * 5) Unknown
 * 6) Honest Joe Statler Fine Horses
 * 7) Unknown
 * 8) Nothing
 * 9) Nothing
 * 10) Unknown
 * 11) A. Jones Manure Handling
 * 12) Nothing

1955

 * 1) Hill Valley Courthouse
 * 2) Lou's Cafe
 * 3) Town Theater
 * 4) Essex Theater
 * 5) Twin Pines Ranch
 * 6) Statler Studebaker
 * 7) Texaco full-service station
 * 8) Lyon Estates (under development)
 * 9) Nothing
 * 10) Ask Mr. Foster Travel Service
 * 11) D. Jones Manure Handling
 * 12) Holt's Diner

1985

 * 1) Hill Valley Courthouse - Department of Social Services
 * 2) Lou's Fitness Aerobics Center
 * 3) Assembly of Christ
 * 4) Essex Theater
 * 5) Twin Pines Mall (becomes Lone Pine Mall after Marty knocks down a tree in 1955)
 * 6) Statler Toyota
 * 7) Texaco gas station
 * 8) Lyon Estates
 * 9) Hilldale (under development)
 * 10) Ask Mr. Foster Travel Service
 * 11) Unknown
 * 12) Elmo's Rib

Alternate 1985

 * 1) Biff Tannen's Pleasure Paradise Casino & Hotel
 * 2) Dee Dee Delight Bar
 * 3) Biffco Toxic Waste Reclamation Plant
 * 4) Unknown
 * 5) Unknown
 * 6) Unknown
 * 7) Unknown
 * 8) Lyon Estates
 * 9) Unknown
 * 10) Unknown
 * 11) Unknown
 * 12) Unknown

2015

 * 1) Hill Valley Courthouse Mall
 * 2) Cafe 80's
 * 3) Hill Valley Theater (closed)
 * 4) Holomax Theater
 * 5) Unknown
 * 6) Statler Pontiac
 * 7) 7-Eleven (first floor) and Texaco automated Havoline station (second floor)
 * 8) Unknown
 * 9) Hilldale
 * 10) Uniglobe Travel
 * 11) Unknown
 * 12) Fusion Bar

Unique places
Despite Hill Valley's notable consistency, many businesses do appear and disappear over the years, as their services begin being needed or become obsolete. The following is a list of such places.

1885

 * Wells Fargo & Co.
 * Barber
 * Marshal's office
 * General Mercantile
 * Doctor
 * Gunsmith
 * Bath House
 * Dress Maker
 * Hill Valley Telegraph
 * Hill Valley Station
 * Undertaking
 * Cabinet Maker
 * Meat Market
 * Blacksmith

1955

 * Hill Valley Stationers
 * Armstrong Realty
 * Louis Watch Maker
 * Roy's Records
 * Elite Barber
 * Blue Bird Motel
 * Zales
 * Bank of America
 * Western Auto
 * Schwinn Bicycle Shop
 * Western Union

1985

 * Dept. of Social Services
 * Cupid's Adult Book Store
 * Goodwill Industries
 * Bank of America
 * The Third Eye
 * Hog Heaven
 * Broadway Florist
 * Burger King
 * Toys "R" Us
 * JCPenney (in the mall)
 * Robinson's (in the mall)
 * Fox Photo (mall parking lot)
 * Biff's Auto Detailing

2015

 * Blast From the Past
 * Simulex
 * Pizza Hut
 * True Blues
 * Eclipse Jewelers
 * Flying High
 * Hill Valley Surrogate Parenting Center
 * Bottoms Up: A Plastic Surgery Franchise
 * The Bot Shoppe
 * Mr. Perfect All Natural Steroids
 * Luxor Taxi Cab Co.
 * Hill Valley Transit
 * Hill Valley Gifts
 * Hyatas Japanese Market

Trivia

 * Signs "Welcome to Hill Valley" are seen in 1955 and 2015. Both the 1955 and 2015 signs have symbols representing the Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions clubs. In addition, the 1955 sign has the logos of the YMCA and Jaycees, while the 2015 sign has those of Crime Watch and the 4-H Club.
 * Doc's house in 1955 is the Gamble House in Pasadena, California.
 * Twin Pines Mall is actually the Puente Hills Mall, located in Industry, California.
 * Many of the cars that appear in 2015 are modified for the film or concept cars. Examples include Ford Probe, Saab EV-1, Citroën DS 21, Pontiac Banshee Concept and Pontiac Fiero.
 * The famous Hill Valley clocktower can also be found in the movies Bruce Almighty, Gremlins, Sneakers, The Offspring ' s music video "Why Don't You Get a Job?" and even in an episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer.