Rancho Calleguas facts for kids

Rancho Calleguas was a very large piece of land, about 9,998-acre (40.46 km²). It was a special gift of land from the Mexican government in 1837. This land was given by Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado to a person named José Pedro Ruiz. Today, this area is part of Ventura County, California.

This big rancho was located near other important ranchos. It was south of Rancho Las Posas, east of Rancho El Rio de Santa Clara o la Colonia, north of Rancho Guadalasca, and west of Rancho El Conejo. The land included the beautiful Santa Rosa Valley and the area where the town of Camarillo is now located.

History of Rancho Calleguas

The Ruiz Family and the Rancho

José Pedro Ruiz was born in 1776. He came to California with his father, Efigeno Ruiz, who was a soldier. In 1837, José Pedro Ruiz was given Rancho Calleguas. He later married María Ygnacia Lugo.

José Pedro Ruiz passed away in 1849. His son, José Gabriel Ruiz, then inherited the large rancho.

Changes After the Mexican-American War

After the Mexican–American War ended in 1848, California became part of the United States. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, which said that land grants given by Mexico would still be honored.

To make sure these land claims were official, the United States passed the Land Act of 1851. This law asked people to file claims for their land. José Gabriel Ruiz filed a claim for Rancho Calleguas in 1852. The government officially recognized his ownership in 1866. This process is called getting a "land patent."

The Camarillo Family Takes Over

In 1876, José Gabriel Ruiz sold Rancho Calleguas to Juan Camarillo. Juan Camarillo was born in 1812 and came to California in 1834. He moved to Ventura in 1857 and opened a store.

Juan Camarillo was very good at business. He started investing in land, buying other ranchos like Rancho Ojai in 1856.

Juan Camarillo passed away in 1880. He left the rancho to his wife, Martina. Martina later left the rancho to their two sons, Adolfo and Juan, Jr.. Their sisters had received other properties from their father.

Adolfo and Juan Jr. are known for starting the town that would later be named after their family: Camarillo.

Historic Sites of the Rancho

• Camarillo Ranch House: This beautiful house was built in 1892 by Adolfo Camarillo. It is built in a style called Queen Anne.