Rancho Corral de Piedra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rancho Corral de Piedra
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Corral de Piedra panorama facing southeast
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 Rancho Corral de Piedra
Location in California
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| Nearest city | San Luis Obispo |
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| Area | 30,911-acre (125.09 km2) |
| Built | 1941–1846 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000766 |
| Added to NRHP | May 22, 1978 |
Rancho Corral de Piedra was a huge piece of land in what is now San Luis Obispo County, California. It was a special gift of land, called a Mexican land grant. This rancho was about 30,911-acre (125.09 km2) in size.
The first part of the land was given in 1841 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado. He gave it to José María Villavicencio. Later, in 1846, Governor Pio Pico added even more land to the rancho. This large ranch was located between the cities we now know as San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande. Its southern edge was along Arroyo Grande Creek.
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History of Rancho Corral de Piedra
This section tells the story of how Rancho Corral de Piedra was created and who owned it over time. It was an important part of California's history.
The Original Owner: José María Villavicencio
José María Teodoro Villavicencio was the first person to receive this land grant. He was a respected person who had been a captain in the militia in Monterey. He also managed two important missions, Mission San Antonio and Mission San Fernando.
José María Villavicencio was married twice. His first wife was Maria Gertrudis Briones. After she passed away, he married Maria Francisca Rafaela Elisabet o Ysabel Rodriguez. Her father, Sebastian Rodríguez, also owned a large ranch called Rancho Bolsa del Pajaro. José María's brother, Rafael Jose Serapio Villavicencio, also received a land grant called Rancho San Geronimo.
Changes After the Mexican-American War
After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States. This happened with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. This treaty said that the United States would respect the land grants given by Mexico.
To make sure these land grants were official under U.S. law, a new rule was made in 1851. Landowners had to file a claim with the Public Land Commission. José María Villavicencio did this in 1852 for Rancho Corral de Piedra. The land was officially confirmed to him in 1867. This official confirmation is called a patent.
Who Owned the Rancho Next?
José María Villavicencio passed away in 1853. He left the large rancho to his seven children.
In 1860, his widow, Rafaela, borrowed money from her brother, Jacinto Rodriguez. Later, in 1866, Rodriguez convinced Villavicencio's children to sell him the entire rancho. He then sold it to a group of dairymen, the Steele brothers: George, Edgar W., Isaac C., and Rensselaer E. Steele.
However, in 1867, the children of José María Villavicencio decided that the sale to Rodriguez was not legal. So, they sold most of the rancho (six-sevenths of it) to another person named George Alexander. This shows how complicated land ownership could become during those times!
