Machado, California facts for kids
Machado refers to three different places in Los Angeles, California. All of them are named after the important Machado family from the old rancho days. A rancho was a large ranch or estate, common in California during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The name "Machado" comes from Portuguese and means "hatchet." It's thought that the family might have used a hatchet to mark the boundaries of their land. An old document from 1855 even describes a "cottonwood tree marked with cuts of a hatchet."
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Machado: Places with History
Machado is a name that connects to three distinct historical locations in the Los Angeles area. Each one tells a part of the region's past.
Machado: A Former Train Stop
One "Machado" was a former train stop in Los Angeles County. It was located at a low elevation of about 13 feet (4 meters) above sea level.
This stop was part of the Venice–Inglewood Line. It was just north of a place called Alla Junction. This train line started in the late 1800s. It was used for both people traveling and for moving goods. Machado still appeared on maps from the USGS as late as 1934.
Machado: An Early Post Office
Another "Machado" was a post office. It was set up around 1878. An application was sent to the Post Office Department to create this new station.
The Machado post office was located about half a mile north of Ballona Creek. It was also about one mile west of the La Ballona station. This shows how the area was developing and needed its own mail service.
Machado Lake: Now Harbor Regional Park
The third "Machado" was a lake. In the 1800s, people called Bixby Slough by the name Machado Lake.
Today, this area is known as Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park. It is a large park with a lake that is popular for recreation.
