Rancho Agua Caliente (Alameda County) facts for kids
Rancho Agua Caliente was a large piece of land, about 9,564 acres, in what is now Alameda County, California. It was a Mexican land grant, which means it was given by the Mexican government. The name "Agua Caliente" means "warm water" in Spanish. This name came from the warm springs found in the hills nearby, just south of Mission San José. Today, this area is located just south of Fremont.
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History of Rancho Agua Caliente
The land for Rancho Agua Caliente was first given by Governor Nicolás Gutiérrez in 1836 to Antonio Suñol. Later, in 1839, Governor Juan Alvarado confirmed the grant to Fulgencio Higuera.
Fulgencio Higuera and His Family
Fulgencio Higuera (1799–1878) came from a family with a long history in California. His grandfather, Ygnacio Anastacio Higuera, arrived in California with the De Anza Expedition. Fulgencio's father, Jose Loreto Higuera, also received a land grant called Rancho Los Tularcitos. Fulgencio's brother, Valentin Higuera, was granted Rancho Pescadero. In 1836, Fulgencio Higuera was given Rancho Agua Caliente, which used to be part of Mission San José land.
Changes After California Became Part of the U.S.
After the Mexican–American War, California became part of the United States. The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo stated that the existing Mexican land grants would still be honored. Because of a law called the Land Act of 1851, Fulgencio Higuera had to file a claim for Rancho Agua Caliente in 1852. His ownership of the land was officially confirmed, or "patented," in 1858.
Selling Off the Land
Starting in the 1850s, Fulgencio Higuera began to sell parts of his large land grant.
- In 1858, a lawyer named Abram Harris bought the southern part of the land. He started a small town there called Harrisburg.
- In 1850, Clement Columbet bought about 640 acres. He built a resort and one of California's first wineries there. However, the resort was destroyed by the 1868 Hayward earthquake.
- Leland Stanford bought the property in 1869. He then started the Leland Stanford Winery in what is now Fremont.
- Thomas W. Millard, who moved to California in 1853, bought a large section of the Rancho in 1855.
Historic Sites of the Rancho
Some important historic places are still found on the land that was once Rancho Agua Caliente:
- Galindo Higuera Adobe: This is a historic building from the time of the rancho.
- Leland Stanford Winery: This winery was started in 1869 by Leland Stanford. His brother, Josiah Stanford, helped run it. Today, the restored buildings are home to Weibel Champagne Vineyards.
