Ranchos of Los Angeles County

Rancho geography remains readily visible in this L.A. County map created the year before the establishment of neighboring Orange County (1888)
Federal Writers' Project map of the ranchos of Los Angeles County (1937); appears to be in the same style as many American Guide Series maps so possibly produced but not used for Los Angeles: A Guide to the City and Its Environs

The ranchos of Los Angeles County were large-scale land grants made by the governments of Spain and Mexico between 1784 and July 7, 1846, to private individuals within the current boundary lines (last adjusted in 1919) of Los Angeles County in California, United States.

Background

Main articles: Ranchos of California and List of ranchos of California

The earliest colonial land grants called ranchos were established by the Commandancy and General Captaincy of the Internal Provinces of the Spanish Empire's Viceroyalty of New Spain. The Spanish colonial authorities of Alta California also established four presidios, three pueblos, and 20 Catholic missions.[a] Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo first claimed California for Spain in 1542 but until 1784 there were no land grants to Spanish subjects, except for small plots within pueblos, the balance of land in Spain's possession "being held for the benefit of the king."[1] The rancho period of California—land grants specifically to individuals outside of misiones and presidios—began in 1784, in what would become L.A. County, with vast grants to three Spanish military veterans.[2][3] All three were grants of traditional Tongva lands.[4] The greater portion of the rancho grants were created under Mexican dominion, which began with independence from Spain on September 27, 1821, and—according to the U.S. Land Commission—ended amidst the Mexican–American War on July 7, 1846. (Grants made after that date were deemed invalid.)[5] As the first Spanish land grants were made in Los Angeles County, the last Mexican land grant ever made was also in Los Angeles County: the Santa Catalina Island grant was made on July 4, 1846.[6]

Mission San Fernando Rey de España, Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, and El Pueblo de Los Ángeles lay within the current boundaries of Los Angeles County. Mission San Gabriel was founded in 1771 under Charles III of Spain; its lands were confiscated in 1833 under the Mexican secularization act, which was passed to protect nascent nation-state of Mexico from the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, which was perceived to be an ally of Spain. A land patent application made by Archbishop of San Francisco Joseph Sadoc Alemany on behalf of the church was confirmed for 191 acres (77 ha; 0.298 sq mi; 0.77 km2) in 1859. Mission San Fernando was established 1797 under Charles IV of Spain and similarly had its lands confiscated in 1833. A land claim of 77 acres (31 ha; 0.120 sq mi; 0.31 km2) for Mission San Fernando was approved and patented in 1865.[5] In 1875, the City of Los Angeles patented a little more than 17,000 acres of land that had been granted to the pobladores. There were a handful of other, smaller land grants[b] made by Mexican authorities that were patented under the U.S. land law but that are not traditionally identified as ranchos. For example, "tract of land 1000 varas square near Mission San Gabriel" (patented to Mr. Sexton in 1871) was one of 10 such small grants near that mission, ranging in size from 19–180 acres (7.7–72.8 ha).[5]

"Old Spanish and Mexican Ranchos of Los Angeles County" (Title Insurance & Trust Company, 1929)

In the decades following the initial grants, many of the ranches listed were further subdivided. Rancho Los Nietos, for example, was partitioned and re-granted as Rancho Los Alamitos, Rancho Los Cerritos, Rancho Los Coyotes, Rancho Las Bolsas, and Rancho Santa Gertrudes. A couple of the ranches that were patented under the U.S. system were conglomerates of originally smaller ranches—notably, Rancho Guaspita and Rancho Salinas became Sausal Redondo.[7][8] (Additionally, at least two sets of patented rancho land grants in Los Angeles County had overlapping areas; these disputes were eventually resolved in federal court.)[3]

Diseños are hand-drawn maps submitted to the U.S. government indicating the extent of a land grant as understood by the grantees.[9] Diseños and expedientes (written descriptions of the grants) were used during the U.S. land-patent process that began when Mexican Alta California became the U.S. state of California in 1850.[9] Diseños are distinct from later maps produced by U.S. surveyors within the extant American rectangular survey system.[9] Several of the earliest surveys, or plats, of Los Angeles-area ranchos were done by Henry Hancock, who himself owned Rancho La Brea and through his son is a namesake of the Hancock Park neighborhood. As for the cattle brands, many of the large ranchos had multiple brands for various herds or during various eras; the single one included here is the earliest known example.[10] Land patents were ultimately granted to over 60 Mexican, Anglo and indigenous Angelenos; the indigenous contingent was represented by Doña Victoria Reid of Rancho Huerta de Cuati, who was Gabrieleño Tongva, and Odón Chihuya, Urbano Chari, and Manuel (later Espíritu Chijulla) of Rancho El Escorpión, who were from a leading family of Fernandeño Tongva.[3] The largest confirmed grant was Ex-Mission San Fernando, the smallest was San Gabriel Mission.[6]

The ranchos had three main elements: the rancho buildings, including the residential hacienda that was often originally made of adobe brick; the adjacent market gardens and vineyards; and, last but not least, a vast pasturage for cattle, the hides and meat of which were the major economic products of the ranchos.[11]

List

Following the conventions of the California Land Commission records, the default alphabetization of this list begins after the Spanish-language articles (el, la, las, los) and prepositions (de, del), so Rancho Los Encinos is sorted by the E in Encinos, Rancho de los Palos Verdes is sorted by the P in Palos, etc. The grants were originally measured in leguas (Spanish leagues) and varas (yards), two Spanish customary units.

Grant patented by U.S. land commission and district courts
Grant either not claimed (due to sale, abandonment, amalgamation, subdivision, et al.) or not recognized during U.S. era
Grant[5][7] Year[7] Grantees[7] Country[7] Grant area[7] Diseño Expediente No.[12] Patentees[7][5] Patent area[5] U.S. survey map Patent date GLO Plat No. Brand[10][13] Etymology[7] Alt names[7] Counties[7] Case file online[c]
Rancho Aguaje de la Centinela 1844 Ygnacio Machado Mexico 382 Bruno Ávila 2,219.26 acres (898.10 ha) August 23, 1872 437 Spanish; el aguaje is watering place or spring, la centinela is guardian Rancho Centinella,[5] El Centinela[12] Los Angeles Case no. 125, Southern District of California.
Rancho Los Alamitos 1834 Juan José Nieto Mexico 06 (6 Spanish leagues) 28,027.17 acres (11,342.19 ha) August 29, 1874 468 Spanish; diminutive form of el álamo, describing Populus fremontii Orange, Los Angeles Case no. 290, Southern District of California
Rancho Azusa 1837 Ignacio Palomares, Ricardo Véjar Mexico 04 (4 Spanish leagues) Indigenous, Tongva language; Tongva (Gabrieleño) community Asuksa'nga[14] Los Angeles
Rancho Azusa de Dalton 1841 Luis Arenas Mexico Henry Dalton 4,431.47 acres (1,793.35 ha) May 29, 1876 455 Personal name; "Azusa ranch of Henry Dalton" Rancho El Susa,[3] Rancho de San José de San Gabriel Los Angeles
Rancho Azusa de Duarte 1841 Andrés Duarte Mexico 236 Andrés Duarte 6,595.62 acres (2,669.15 ha) June 6, 1878 456 Personal name; "Azusa ranch of Andrés Duarte" Rancho Susita[3] Los Angeles
Rancho La Ballona 1839 Agustín Machado, Ygnacio Machado, Felipe Talamantes, Tomás Talamantes Mexico 184 Agustín Machado, Ygnacio Machado, Felipe Talamantes, Tomás Talamantes 13,919.90 acres (5,633.18 ha) December 8, 1873 434 Disputed Rancho Paseo de Las Carretas (wagon pass); Rancho de Los Quintos[15] Los Angeles Case no. 123, Southern District of California.
Rancho Boca de Santa Mónica 1839 Ysidro Reyes Mexico 01.5 (11⁄2 Spanish leagues) 330 Ysidro Reyes, Francisco Marquez, et al. 6,656.93 acres (2,693.96 ha) July 21, 1881 539 Spanish; la boca meaning mouth, entrance, or opening; the flowing waters of the Tongva Sacred Springs were reminiscent of the tears of Monica, a Roman Catholic saint Los Angeles Case no. 141, Southern District of California
Rancho La Brea 1828 José Antonio Rocha[16] Mexico 01 (1 Spanish league) José Antonio Rocha 4,439.07 acres (1,796.43 ha) April 15, 1873 429 Spanish; la brea meaning asphalt or tar Los Angeles Case no. 287, Southern District of California.
Rancho Cahuenga Twice granted;

(1) 1843

(2) 1846

Twice granted;

(1) José Yvez Limantour, José Miguel Triunfo (2) Luis Arenas

Mexico Twice granted;

(1) 06 Spanish leagues

(2) 04 Spanish leagues

D. W. Alexander 388.34 acres (157.16 ha) August 2, 1872 425 Indigenous, Tongva language; Tongva community Kawee'nga[17] Cajuenga Los Angeles Case no. 225, Southern District of California, Case no. 321, Southern District of California
Rancho La Cañada 1843 Ygnacio Coronel Mexico 02 (2 Spanish leagues) J.R. Scott, et al. 5,832.10 acres (2,360.17 ha) August 1, 1866 414 Spanish; la cañada describes a "dale or glen" between mountains Los Angeles
Rancho La Cañada atras de Verdugos 1846 Antonio Francisco Coronel (claim rejected by U.S.) Mexico Spanish; la cañada meaning dale or glen between mountains; atras "behind or in back of" the Verdugo Mountains of Rancho San Rafael Rancho Sierra de los Verdugos Los Angeles
Rancho La Cañada de Los Nogales 1844 José Maria Águilar Mexico 0.5 (1⁄2 Spanish league) 380 José M. Águila 1,199.56 acres (485.44 ha) May 4, 1882 546 Spanish; la cañada meaning dale or glen between mountains; el nogal meaning walnut tree, describing Juglans californica Los Angeles Case no. 23, Southern District of California
Rancho Castac 1843 José M. Covarrubias Mexico 05 (5 Spanish leagues) 326 José M. Covarrubias 22,178.28 acres (8,975.23 ha) Indigenous, Chumash language; Chumash community of Kaštɨq Kern, Los Angeles
Rancho Los Cerritos 1834 Maria Manuela Nieto Mexico 05 (5 Spanish leagues) John Temple 27,054.36 acres (10,948.51 ha) December 7, 1867 467 Spanish; cerrito meaning hillock or little hill Rancho Los Sierritos Orange, Los Angeles Case no. 17, Southern District of California
Rancho La Ciénega ó Paso de la Tijera 1843 Vicente Sánchez Mexico 532 Tomás Sánchez 4,481.05 acres (1,813.42 ha) May 22, 1873 436 Spanish; la ciénega meaning wetland, marsh, or muddy place; paso is pass or passage; la tijera apparently has several definitions: scissors, an X-shaped tool, a person who shears animals, and channel or drain Rancho Cienega y Tijeras[12] Los Angeles
Rancho Las Ciénegas 1823 Januario Ávila Mexico 01 (1 Spanish league) Januario Ávila Spanish; la ciénega meaning wetland, marsh, or muddy place Los Angeles
Rancho El Conejo Twice granted;

(1) 1803

(2) 1822

Twice granted;

(1) José Polanco, Ygnacio Rodriguez

(2) José de la Guerra y Noriega

Twice granted; (1) Spain

(2) Mexico

Twice granted;

(1) 11 Spanish leagues

(2) 48,672 acres (as claimed 1873)

José de la Guerra y Noriega 48,671.56 acres (19,696.68 ha) January 8, 1873 408 Spanish; el conejo meaning rabbit, describing Sylvilagus audubonii and Sylvilagus bachmani Rancho Señora de Altagracia Los Angeles
Rancho Los Coyotes 1834 Juan José Nieto Mexico 10 (10 Spanish leagues) Andrés Pico, et al. 48,806.17 acres (19,751.16 ha) March 9, 1875 472 Spanish; borrowing of Nahuatl language coyōtl; coyotes remain common mammals of Southern California[18] Rancho La Buena Esperanza[19] Los Angeles
Rancho Los Encinos Twice granted;

(1) 1785–1797

(2) 1845

Twice granted;

(1) Juan Francisco Reyes

(2) Ramon, Francisco, Roque (described as "presumably Indians")[d]

Twice granted;

(1) Spain

(2) Mexico

01 (1 Spanish league) 458 Vicente de la Osa 4,460.73 acres (1,805.19 ha) January 8, 1873 411 brand Spanish; el encino is oak; California has 20 native species of oak tree[20] Rancho El Encino Los Angeles Case no. 392, Southern District of California
Rancho El Escorpión 1845 Odón Chihuya, Urbano Chari, Manuel[21] Mexico 01.5 (11⁄2 Spanish leagues) 461 Odón Chihuya, Urbano Chari, Manuel 1,109.65 acres (449.06 ha) December 11, 1876 409 Spanish; there are 54 known scorpion species in the state, including the California common scorpion Los Angeles Case no. 129, Southern District of California
Rancho Ex Mission de San Fernando 1846 Eulogio de Célis Mexico 13 Spanish leagues Eulogio de Célis 116,858.46 acres (47,290.94 ha) January 8, 1873 410 Descriptive; lands previously held by the Catholic Church were confiscated and redistributed under the Mexican secularization act of 1833 Los Angeles Case no. 343, Southern District of California
Rancho Los Féliz 1802 José Vicente Féliz Spain 01.5 (11⁄2 Spanish leagues) 350 Juan Diego 6,647.46 acres (2,690.13 ha) April 8, 1871 426 Personal name; initial grantee Los Angeles Case no. 133, Southern District of California
Rancho Guaspita 1822 Antonio Ygnacio Ávila Mexico Indigenous, Tongva language; Tongva community of Guashna[22] Los Angeles
Rancho La Habra 1839 Mariano Reyes Roldan Mexico 01.5 (11⁄2 Spanish leagues) 131 Andrés Pico 6,698.57 acres (2,710.82 ha) April 18, 1872 462 Spanish; la abra is an opening Rancho Cañada de La Habra Orange, Los Angeles
Rancho Huerta de Cuati Uncertain; 1820 or 1828 Victoria Reid Uncertain Victoria Reid 128.26 acres (51.90 ha) June 30, 1858 421 Uncertain; huerta is orchard or kitchen garden in Spanish but the meaning of cuati in this context is unknown, although it is a word in Nahuatl, which is in the same language family as Tongva Los Angeles
Rancho Isla de Santa Catalina 1846 Thomas M. Robbins Mexico José María Covarrubias 6,698.57 acres (2,710.82 ha) April 10, 1867 470 Named for figure of religious significance; Sebastián Vizcaíno named the island for Catherine of Alexandria, a Roman Catholic saint Los Angeles
Rancho La Liebre 1846 José M. Flores Mexico 11 Spanish leagues 547 José M. Flores 48,799.59 acres (19,748.49 ha) June 21, 1875 347 Spanish; la liebre is hare, describing Lepus californicus Los Angeles
Rancho Matzultaquea 1845 Ramon Carrillo (J. B. Frisbie claim rejected by U.S.) Mexico 04 (4 Spanish leagues) Unknown Los Angeles
Rancho La Merced 1844 Casilda Soto Mexico 01 (1 Spanish league) Francis Pliny F. Temple, et al. 2,363.75 acres (956.58 ha) February 13, 1872 443 Spanish; la merced is literally a mercy but is also used to describe income earned by labor Los Angeles
Rancho Los Nietos 1784 Manuel Nieto Spain 33 (33 Spanish leagues) Personal name; initial grantee Orange, Los Angeles
Rancho Los Nogales 1840 José de la Luz Linares Mexico 01 (1 Spanish league) 195 M. de Jesus García 1,003.67 acres (406.17 ha) June 29, 1882 459 Spanish; el nogal meaning walnut tree, describing Juglans californica Los Angeles
Rancho Ojo de Agua 1840 Encarnacio Sepúlveda (no U.S. claim presented) Mexico 02 (2 Spanish leagues) Spanish; el ojo is eye, la agua is water Los Angeles
Rancho de los Palos Verdes 1827 José L. Sepúlveda Mexico 565 José L. Sepúlveda, et al. 31,629.43 acres (12,799.98 ha) June 22, 1880 439 Spanish; el palo is a wooden stick; verde is green en Español Rancho de Los Palos Colorados Los Angeles
Rancho Paso de Bartolo Viejo 1835 Juan Crispin Perez Mexico 02 (2 Spanish leagues) 061 Patented in 3 parts;

(1) Joaquin Sepúlveda (208 acres)

2) Pico & Perez (8991 acres)

(3) Rafael Guirado (876 acres)

10,075 acres (4,077 ha) 1867-09-27, 1881-03-17, 1881-08-05 465, 458, 464 Mixed; an old (viejo in Spanish) San Gabriel River crossing was named for a person called Bartolo[23] Rancho San Rafael Los Angeles
Rancho Portezuela 1795 Mariano de la Luz Verdugo (located in the San Fernando Valley;[6] grant abandoned c. 1810) Spain Spanish; el portezuelo is a pass Los Angeles
Rancho Potrero Chico 1843 Antonio Valenzuela Mexico Ramon Valenzuela, et al. 83.46 acres (33.78 ha) April 4, 1923 444 Spanish; el potrero is a paddock, or pasturage for horses; chico as an adjective means little Rancho Potrero de la Misíon Vieja de San Gabriel Los Angeles
Rancho Potrero de Felipe Lugo 1845 Teodoro Romero, Jorge Morillo Mexico Jorge Morillo 2,042.81 acres (826.70 ha) June 15, 1871 446 borders Spanish; el potrero is a paddock, or pasturage for horses; Felipe Lugo was a member of the prominent Californio Lugo family Rancho Dolores Los Angeles
Rancho Potrero Grande 1845 Manuel Antonio Mexico 01 (1 Spanish league) 439 J. Matías Sanchez 4,431.95 acres (1,793.55 ha) July 19, 1859 445 Spanish; el potrero is a paddock, or pasturage for horses; grande is big Los Angeles
Rancho La Providencia 1843 Vicente de la Osa Mexico 01 (1 Spanish league) D. W. Alexander 4,064.33 acres (1,644.78 ha) August 6, 1872 424 Spanish; providence, foresight, divine superintendence Possibly Rancho Osa after Vicente de la Osa[7] Los Angeles
Rancho La Puente 1845 John A. Rowland, William H. Workman Mexico 270 John Rowland, William Workman 48,790.55 acres (19,744.84 ha) April 19, 1867 460 Spanish; la puente is a bridge over water Rancho Puente de San Gabriel Los Angeles, Orange Case no. 127, Southern District of California
Rancho Rincón de la Brea 1841 Gil Ibarra Mexico 01 (1 Spanish league ) 222 Gil Ibarra 4,452.59 acres (1,801.90 ha) 1864-11-14 461 Spanish; el rincón meaning corner or angle, la brea meaning asphalt or tar Rancho Cañada de la Brea Los Angeles
Rancho Rincón de los Bueyes 1821 Bernardo Higuera Spain 0.6 (3⁄5 Spanish league) Francisco Higuera, et al. 3,127.89 acres (1,265.81 ha) August 27, 1872 435 Spanish; el rincón meaning corner or angle, los bueyes are oxen Los Angeles Case no. 131, Southern District of California
Rancho Río de Las Ánimas 1846 Leonardo Cota, Julián A. Chávez (claim rejected by U.S.) Mexico 06 (6 Spanish leagues) Spanish; "river of souls" Los Angeles
Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas Uncertain; c. 1820 Vicente Ferrer Villa Spain 4000 varas María Rita Valdés 4,449.31 acres (1,800.57 ha) June 27, 1871 430 Spanish; "gathering of the waters";[24] literally, rodeo is a cattle herd round-up, agua is water describing pre-settlement watershed features Rancho San Antonio Los Angeles Case no. 371, Southern District of California
Rancho Rosa Castilla 1831 Juan Ballesteros (Claim of A. Lestrada was rejected.) Mexico Spanish; wild roses grew here;[25] the ranch is named for Castile roses, the plants were likely one of the nine recognized species of roses native to California,[26] such as Rosa californica Los Angeles
Rancho Salinas 1822 Antonio Ygnacio Ávila Mexico Spanish; salinas are salt flats; given the location,[8] the name of the rancho likely referred to the Old Salt Lake Los Angeles
Rancho San Antonio 1810 Antonio María Lugo Spain Antonio María Lugo 29,513.35 acres (11,943.63 ha) July 20, 1866 442 Named for figure of religious significance; Anthony of Padua, a Roman Catholic saint Los Angeles
Rancho San Francisco 1839 Antonio del Valle Mexico 08 (8 Spanish leagues) Jacoba Féliz 48,611.88 acres (19,672.53 ha) February 12, 1875 399 Named for figure of religious significance; Francis of Assisi, a Roman Catholic saint Kern, Los Angeles
Rancho San Francisquito 1845 Henry Dalton Mexico Henry Dalton 8,893.62 acres (3,599.12 ha) May 30, 1867 447 Named for figure of religious significance; Francis of Assisi, a Roman Catholic saint, diminutive form Azuchzana Los Angeles Case no. 22, Southern District of California
Rancho San José 1837 Ignacio Palomares, Ricardo Véjar Mexico 141 Ignacio Palomares, Ricardo Véjar, Henry Dalton 26,771.05 acres (10,833.86 ha)[e] January 20, 1875 458 Named for figure of religious significance; Joseph, a Roman Catholic saint Los Angeles Case no. 122, Southern District of California, Case no. 128, Southern District of California
Rancho San José de Buenos Ayres 1819 Máximo Alanis, José Polanco Spain 01 (1 Spanish league) Benjamin D. Wilson 4,438.69 acres (1,796.27 ha) July 5, 1866 431 Named for figure of religious significance; Joseph, a Roman Catholic saint, modifier buenos ayres translates roughly to fair winds or fresh air Los Angeles Case no. 305, Southern District of California
Rancho San Pascual 1835 Juan Maríne Mexico 03.5 (31⁄2 Spanish leagues) Patented in 2 parts;

(1) Manuel Garfias

(2) Benjamin D. Wilson

Patented in 2 parts;

(1) 13,693.93 acres (5,541.74 ha) (2) 709 acres (287 ha)

422, 415 Named for figure of religious significance; Paschal Baylón, a Roman Catholic saint Rancho El Rincón de San Pasqual Los Angeles Case no. 173, Southern District of California
Rancho San Pedro 1784[f] Juan José Dominguez Spain Manuel Dominguez 43,119.13 acres (17,449.69 ha) December 18, 1858 440 Named for figure of religious significance; Peter, a Roman Catholic saint Dominguez Rancho, Suanga, Rancho de los Gutierrez Los Angeles Case no. 273, Southern District of California
Rancho San Rafael 1784 José María Verdugo Spain Julio Verdugo, et al. 36,403.32 acres (14,731.90 ha) January 28, 1882 423 Named for figure of religious significance; Raphael, an archangel Rancho La Zanja (la zanja was a local form of irrigation canal), Hahaonuput, Arroyo Hondo Los Angeles Case no. 381, Southern District of California
Rancho San Vicente y Santa Mónica 1828 Francisco Sepúlveda Mexico 357 Sepúlveda 30,259.65 acres (12,245.65 ha) July 23, 1881 432 Named for figures of religious significance; Vincent of Saragossa and Saint Monica, both Roman Catholic saints Los Angeles Case no. 143, Southern District of California
Rancho Santa Anita 1841 Hugo Reid Mexico 03 (3 Spanish leagues) Henry Dalton 13,319.06 acres (5,390.03 ha) August 9, 1866 454 Named for figure of religious significance; Ann, a Roman Catholic saint, diminutive form[24] Los Angeles Case no. 86, Southern District of California
Rancho Santa Gertrudes 1833 Josefa Cota de Nieto Mexico 05 (5 Spanish leagues) 103 Patented in 2 parts;

(1) Tomás Sanchez Colima

(2) Jas. P. McFarland, John G. Downey

38,900.25 acres (15,742.37 ha)[g] 463, 466 Named for figure of religious significance; Gertrude the Great, a Roman Catholic saint Los Angeles Case no. 193, Southern District of California, Case no. 194, Southern District of California
Rancho Sausal Redondo 1822 Antonio Ygnacio Ávila Mexico 05 (5 Spanish leagues) 337 Antonio Ygnacio Ávila 22,458.94 acres (9,088.81 ha) 1875-03-22 438 Spanish; el sauzal is willow grove, describing Baccharis salicifolia, California seep willow; redondo is literally round, but here refers to a pasturage Rancho Santa Elena, see also Rancho Gauspita and Rancho Salinas Los Angeles Case no. 354, Southern District of California.
Rancho Simi 1795 Santiago Pico Spain 14 (14 Spanish leagues) 271 José de la Guerra y Noriega 113,009.21 acres (45,733.20 ha) 1865-06-29 400 Indigenous, Chumash language; Chumash community of Šimiyi Rancho San José de Gracia de Simí Ventura, Los Angeles Case no. 103, Southern District of California
Rancho La Tajauta 1843 Anastasio Ávila Mexico 01 (1 Spanish league) Enrique Ávila 3,559.86 acres (1,440.62 ha) January 8, 1873 441 Indigenous, Tongva language; Tongva community of Tajáuta Tajanta, Tajuanta, Cuerbas, Rancho Los Cuerbos (or Cuervos)[7][27] Los Angeles Case no. 167, Southern District of California
Rancho Temescal 1843 Francisco Lopez Mexico 03 (3 Spanish leagues) R. de la Cuesta 13,339.07 acres (5,398.13 ha) September 13, 1871 398 Spanish; borrowing of the Nahuatl word temāzcalli, meaning sweat house, steam bath, sauna[28][29] Ventura, Los Angeles
Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit 1804 José Bartolomé Tapia Spain Matthew Keller 13,315.70 acres (5,388.67 ha) August 29, 1872 433 Indigenous, mixed; Tongva community of Topaa'nga, Chumash community of Humaliwo, Chumash community of Lisiksi or Lisiqsihi[30][31] Topanza Malibu, Sequit, Simo Los Angeles Case no. 147, Southern District of California.
Rancho Tujunga 1840 Pedro Lopez, Francisco Lopez Mexico 01.5 (11⁄2 Spanish leagues) 215 D.W. Alexander 6,660.71 acres (2,695.49 ha) October 19, 1874 413 Indigenous, Tongva language; Tongva community of Tuhuu'nga[17] Los Angeles Case no. 52, Southern District of California
Rancho Las Vírgenes Uncertain; c. 1810 Miguel Ortega Spain 054 Maria Antonia Machado de Reyes 8,878.76 acres (3,593.11 ha) September 5, 1883 545 Named for figure of religious significance; originally Nuestra Señora la Reina de las Vírgenes, a Spanish-language honorific for Mary, mother of Jesus, meaning Our Lady, the Queen of the Virgins Los Angeles Case no. 256, Southern District of California

Influence

Many place names in Los Angeles County draw their names from the ranchos and the rancheros.[32] Examples of rancho-derived toponyms include: Ballona (Creek, Wetlands), Brea, Centinela Ave., Cerritos (Auto Square, College), Conejo Valley, Dominguez (Hills, Channel, Rancho, CSUDH), Duarte, Encino, La Brea Ave., La Cañada Flintridge, La Cienega Blvd., La Puente, La Tijera Blvd., Las Virgenes USD, Los Feliz, Mount Baldy, Palos Verdes (Peninsula, Estates, blue butterfly), Park La Brea, Pico Blvd., Pico-Union, Pico Rivera, Rancho Park, Redondo Beach, Rose Hills, Rodeo Dr., San Jose Hills, San Pedro (Bay, neighborhood), San Vicente Blvd., other San Vicente Blvd., Santa Anita Race Track, Santa Monica (Bay, City, Blvd., Mountains), Sepulveda (Blvd., Pass, Transit Corridor, Dam), Verdugo (Mountains, Wash), Walnut, West Whittier-Los Nietos, et al. Rancho boundaries define a portion of the county boundary line; approximately 173 mi (278 km) of roads in the county follow rancho borders; and several major arterial thoroughfares run along former rancho property lines, including Pico, Redondo Beach, Sepulveda, Washington, Whittier, and Wilshire boulevards.[33]

The cartouche in the bottom right includes a conversion between English miles, Spanish leagues, and Spanish varas (Title Insurance & Trust Company, 1937)

By the 20th century, the popular culture of California often depicted romantic rancheros and idealized missions, but erased the negative consequences for indigenous people of the California mission clash of cultures.[34] Mission Revival (1890–1915), Spanish Colonial Revival (1915–1935), Monterey Colonial Revival and California Churrigueresque were all popular architectural styles in Los Angeles,[35][36] and not coincidentally: "Thanks to architects, writers, and city boosters, Southern California's identity became firmly grounded in an obsession with geography."[37] The appropriation of Spanish colonization by bourgeois whites[37] is typified by projects like Christine Sterling's preservation of Ávila Adobe and establishment of Olvera Street as a tourist attraction.[38] The eventual design shift from adobe-style buildings to the "Mediterranean" style was an intentional separation from the rustic and Mexican roots of the place to what was perceived as a more sophisticated cultural iconography,[37] although "California stucco" was a method for attaching the "Mexican–Indian mode of domestic architecture" to mass production of small family homes.[39] The "romance of the ranchos" was also used as a pretext for discouraging urban density of Los Angeles and promoting a vast decentralized "rural urban" development style that combines vast tracts of single family homes and practices like faux-rural horse-keeping with dense nodes of finance, law and film production.[40]

See also

Spanish and American Ranchos (1939) by Lucien Adolph Labaudt, commissioned as a New Deal artwork by the Treasury Relief Art Project for the Spring Street Courthouse

Notes

  1. ^ One additional pueblo and one additional mission were established in Mexican California, bringing the totals to four and 21.
  2. ^ For a complete accounting of the patented small land grants within Los Angeles County, see the California Land Commission report of 1982.
  3. ^ Southern District of California refers to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, a federal-level court.
  4. ^ "Ramon Tiburcio" and "Roque" are the listed claimants of Encino on the index of expedientes held by the National Archives.
  5. ^ Rancho San José was patented in two sections, one titled to Dalton-Palomares & Véjar, and a smaller one labeled "Addition" just to Dalton-Palomares.[5]
  6. ^ The Rancho San Pedro grant was made sometime before October 20, 1784 and regranted in 1820, less Palos Verdes.
  7. ^ Rancho Santa Gertrudes was patented in two parts, the smaller to Colima and the larger to McFarland & Downey.[5]

References

  1. ^ Melvill, J.H. (July 21, 1890). "Early Land Grants: A short history of them in this county". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 34, no. 98. p. 2. ISSN 2166-5494. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
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Further reading