Little Landers facts for kids

The Little Landers were a group of farming communities in California. They were started by a writer named William E. Smythe. The idea was for families to work together on small farms. The first community began in 1909 in San Ysidro, San Diego, California. Sadly, these communities did not last very long. By 1925, most of them were empty.

The Big Idea Behind Little Landers

William E. Smythe had a special idea for people to live and work together. He was inspired by a book called A Little Land and a Living by Bolton Hall. Smythe believed that families could have small farms, each with about one to five acres of land. The families would then sell their crops and goods together. This way, they could help each other and share the profits.

Starting the First Colony

The very first Little Landers community was planned near San Diego.

• In 1908, a group called the Little Landers Corporation was officially formed.
• They chose a place that used to be a large farm called the Belcher Ranch.
• This new community was named San Ysidro. It was probably named after Isidore the Laborer, who is a saint known as the patron saint of farmers.
• San Ysidro officially opened on January 11, 1909.
• It grew to be about 150 acres on the flat valley floor and 400 acres on the hills.

Challenges and Changes

The people living in San Ysidro faced many problems.

• They did not have enough money (capital) to get started.
• Many did not know much about farming.
• There was also a big problem with getting enough water for their crops.

Because of these issues, a new group called Little Landers, Incorporated, was created in 1910. This new group tried to run things more like a New England town meeting. This meant everyone in the community had a say in decisions. By 1912, about 100 families lived there.

The Flood of 1916

In January 1916, a big flood hit the valley where San Ysidro was located.

• Many farms were ruined.
• The community's water pumping station, which brought water to the farms, was destroyed.
• A new pumping station was built, but many people had already left.
• By 1917, the Little Landers, Incorporated, group was shut down because they could not pay their taxes.
• By 1918, it was clear that the San Ysidro community had not worked out as planned.

Other Little Landers Communities

Besides San Ysidro, there were other Little Landers communities in California.

• Some were in the San Fernando Valley.
• One was called Runnymede, near East Palo Alto.
• Another was Hayward Heath in Alameda County.
• There was also a community near Cupertino in Santa Clara County.

These communities also faced difficulties. Many people left to take higher-paying jobs during wartime.

Los Terrenitos

Another community, called "Los Terrenitos" (which means "The Little Lands" in English), started around 1913.

• It was located in a valley between the Verdugo and Sierra Madre Mountains. Today, this area is part of Tujunga.
• The soil there was very rocky and not good for farming.
• Eventually, most of the settlers divided their land into smaller pieces and sold them.
• By January 1925, almost all the original families had moved away.

The Last Colony: Hayward Heath

The last Little Landers community was called Hayward Heath. It was located in the hills above Hayward, California.

• By the summer of 1916, about 60 families lived there.
• Just like Los Terrenitos, the soil at Hayward Heath was not good for farming.
• By 1920, the community was almost completely empty.
• By February 1925, nearly everyone had left the site.

The Little Landers colonies were an interesting idea for people to live and farm together. However, they faced many challenges like lack of money, farming knowledge, water problems, and poor soil, which eventually led to their end.