Pochea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pochea Indian village site |
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Pochea Indian village site marker
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| Location | Ramona Bowl, 27400 S Girard Street, Hemet, California |
| Built | Prehistory – outbreak 1774 |
| Designated | March 29, 1933 |
| Reference no. | 104 |
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The Pochea Indian village site was a special place. It was once the home of the Pochea Indians. This village was located in what is now Hemet, California, in Riverside County, California. The Pochea Indians lived in small groups. These groups were part of a larger family of indigenous peoples of California called Pahsitnah.
This important site was named a California Historical Landmark (No. 104) on March 29, 1933. Today, you can find the site at the Ramona Bowl in Hemet, California.
Contents
An Explorer's Journey
In 1774, a Spanish explorer named Juan Bautista de Anza led an expedition. His group stopped at the Pochea Indian village. This expedition was trying to find a land route from Mexico to California.
The Impact of Smallpox
Sadly, someone in Anza's group had smallpox. This very serious disease spread to a Pochea person. Soon, a terrible smallpox epidemic broke out among the villagers. Many people became sick. Those who survived the illness moved away. They went to what is now the Soboba Reservation. This is where the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians live today.
Anza's Expedition Details
Juan Bautista de Anza started his journey on January 8, 1774. He left from a place called Tubac, Arizona. His group included three priests, 20 soldiers, and 11 servants. They also had many animals, like mules, cattle, and horses.
They traveled across the Sonoran Desert. They went south of the Gila River to avoid attacks. Finally, they reached the Colorado River at the Yuma Crossing. This was one of the few places where they could cross the river. There, they met the friendly Quechan (Yuma) Indians. These people were growing their own food using irrigation. They already had horses and other crops from New Mexico.
After crossing the Colorado River, Anza's group went south. They then turned northwest towards today's Mexicali, Mexico. They continued north through the Imperial Valley. Eventually, they reached Mission San Gabriel Arcángel. This mission was near the future city of Los Angeles. It took Anza about 74 days to complete this first trip. He was trying to find a good land route into California.
On his way back, Anza traveled along the Gila River. He then followed the Santa Cruz River (Arizona) back to Tubac. The return trip was much faster, taking only 23 days. He met many peaceful farming tribes along the Gila River. These tribes also used irrigation systems.
What the Marker Says
There is a special marker at the Pochea Indian village site. It tells us about the history of this place.
The marker reads:
- NO. 104 SITE OF INDIAN VILLAGE OF POCHEA – Pochea was one of a cluster of Indian villages forming the very large settlement of Pahsitnah, which extended along the ridge east and west of Ramona Bowl. Pahsitnah was thriving when the Spanish first passed by in 1774. A tragic story tells of the natives contracting smallpox from Europeans, a terrible epidemic spreading, and some survivors fleeing to the area of the present Soboba Reservation.
