Alta California, also known as Nueva California, was a province of New Spain established in 1804. It became a territory of Mexico in 1822 and was renamed Alta California in 1824. The territory included present-day U.S. states of California, Nevada, and Utah, and parts of Arizona, Wyoming, and Colorado. It was re-combined with Baja California in 1836 and ceded to the U.S. in 1848, joining the union as the 31st state in 1850. The Spanish established missions and presidios, encroaching on Indigenous lands and imposing their practices. Evidence of Alta California remains in numerous Spanish place names of American cities. Spanish interest in colonizing Alta California was revived under the governance reorganization plans of José de Gálvez, driven by fears of Russian colonization and fur trading in Alaska. The Portolá expedition in 1769 established the first European settlement in present-day California. Subsequent missions and presidios were often founded at the sites of Indigenous villages, leading to further encroachment on Indigenous lands.

Alta Rockefeller Prentice (April 12, 1871 – June 21, 1962) was an influential American philanthropist and socialite, renowned as the daughter of John D. Rockefeller, the co-founder of Standard Oil. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Alta was a member of the prominent Rockefeller family, alongside her siblings, including John D. Rockefeller Jr. and Edith Rockefeller. In 1917, she received a significant inheritance from her father, which included shares in Standard Oil of Indiana, solidifying her financial standing. Alta married Colonel Ezra Parmalee Prentice and together they raised three children. Known for her philanthropic endeavors, she founded the Alta House, a settlement house in Cleveland, and owned a vast estate in Massachusetts where she conducted agricultural experiments. Alta passed away in 1962, leaving behind a legacy of generosity and an enduring impact on various institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art and Lenox Hill Hospital. Her contributions to society continue to be celebrated and remembered.

Alta Alice Miner Bates (December 11, 1879 – November 30, 1955) was a pioneering American nurse anesthetist and the visionary founder of what is now known as Alta Bates Summit Medical Center. Born in Lapeer, Michigan, in 1879, Bates and her family later relocated to Northern California. She made history by becoming the first registered nurse in Humboldt County, California, and subsequently the first nurse anesthetist in the San Francisco Bay Area.Bates' impactful career began when, at age 23, she became the first nurse to graduate from the Eureka Training School for Nurses, followed by completing her training at Sequoia Hospital in Eureka, California in 1903. Notably, Bates established an eight-bed sanitarium for women and children in Berkeley, California, which also served as a nursing school. Her remarkable work and vision garnered support from local physicians and community leaders, leading to the expansion and renaming of the institution to Alta Bates Hospital in 1928.Throughout her career, Bates administered over 14,000 anesthetics and trained over 330 nurses. Due to health issues, Bates retired from her role as the hospital's director in 1949, and she passed away in 1955 at the age of 75. Her enduring legacy and contributions to the medical field continue to inspire and impact healthcare to this day.

Alta Walker, also known as A.S. Walker, was a prominent American geologist recognized for her groundbreaking contributions to planetary mapping and desertification research. Born on April 28, 1942, in Ogdensburg, New York, Walker embarked on an illustrious career that spanned across esteemed institutions such as the National Air and Space Museum, the US Geological Survey, and the Department of the Interior. Notably, her pioneering work involved mapping the moons of Jupiter and the dark side of Earth's Moon. Furthermore, she was a notable figure in the field of astronaut candidacy, being among the first female Americans to be considered for such a role. Walker's academic journey was marked by her exceptional educational achievements, culminating in a Doctor of Philosophy in Geochemistry from Rice University. Throughout her career, she authored several influential books on deserts, geology, and resources, solidifying her legacy as a respected authority in her field. Her impactful research on desertification was prominently featured in American Scientist, further cementing her status as an influential figure in the scientific community. Sadly, Alta Walker passed away on August 1, 2015, leaving behind a profound legacy that continues to inspire and inform future generations of scientists.

Alta Kotze, born on December 4, 1971, is a renowned former South African cricketer known for her exceptional right-arm fast-medium bowling skills. She made a significant impact during her career, featuring in 15 One Day Internationals for South Africa between 1997 and 1999. Her talent extended to the domestic cricket arena, where she played for Gauteng, Easterns, and Limpopo. Notably, Kotze also made valuable contributions to the South African Indoor Women's Cricket team, where she earned the distinction of being the most successful South African Indoor Captain with an impressive 89% winning rate. Her legacy in the sport continues to inspire and influence aspiring cricketers. For more detailed information, her profiles on ESPNcricinfo and CricketArchive provide comprehensive insights into her illustrious career.