Blanco, Monterey County, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blanco
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 Blanco
Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Monterey County |
| Elevation | 23 ft (7 m) |
Blanco (which means "White" in Spanish) is a small, unincorporated community in Monterey County, California. An "unincorporated community" is a place where people live that doesn't have its own local government, unlike a city. Blanco is located right by the Salinas River, about 4.5 miles (7 km) west of the city of Salinas. It sits at an elevation of 23 feet (7 meters) above sea level.
Contents
The Portolá Expedition: A Big Decision
The Portolá expedition was the very first European land journey to explore what is now Alta California. This Spanish expedition, led by Gaspar de Portolá, camped near Blanco for several days in October 1769. From this camp, the explorers climbed the hills to the west. From there, they saw Monterey Bay for the first time.
Searching for Monterey's Harbor
The main goal of the expedition was to find the great port of Monterey, which had been described by an earlier explorer, Sebastian Vizcaino. However, when Portolá and his soldiers went to check, the harbor didn't look as grand as they expected. Even though they recognized landmarks like "Point of Pines" (Monterey Peninsula) and the "Rio de Carmelo" (Carmel River), they were running low on supplies.
A Crucial Meeting to Decide the Future
On October 4, 1769, the leaders of the expedition held an important meeting. They needed to decide whether to turn back and return to San Diego or keep searching north. Everyone agreed to continue the journey. They decided to rest for six days and then keep looking for the Port of Monterey for as long as they possibly could. This decision was very important for the future exploration of California.
Rancho Las Salinas: Early Land Use
The area around Blanco was once part of a Spanish land grant called Rancho Las Salinas. This grant was given in 1795. It was the first land grant in the Monterey Bay area. Back then, Spanish law didn't allow private ownership of land. So, a land grant was simply permission to use the land, not to own it completely.
Changes in Land Ownership
Because these early grants were not full ownership, many were never fully developed or even claimed. The original Rancho Las Salinas claim was eventually given up. Later, in 1839, under Mexican law, a new and smaller grant was made. This time, it gave full ownership of the land.
Later History and the Name Blanco
A post office operated in Blanco for many years. It was open from 1873 to 1917, with a short break in 1878. It then reopened from 1930 to 1941.
How Blanco Got Its Name
The name "Blanco" honors a sailor named Tom White. He arrived in Monterey in 1840 after leaving his ship. Tom White settled in this area. Local people started calling him "Tomas Blanco," which is the Spanish translation of his name. That's how this community got its unique name.
