Rancho Cuca facts for kids
Rancho Cuca was a large piece of land in what is now San Diego County, California. It was about 2,174-acre (8.80 km2) in size. This land was given out as a "Mexican land grant" in 1845. A Mexican land grant was a way the government of Mexico gave away land to people. Governor Pío Pico, who was the last Mexican governor of California, gave this land to a woman named María Juana de los Angeles. Rancho Cuca was located south of Palomar Mountain.
Contents
History of Rancho Cuca
Early Land Grant
The land for Rancho Cuca was given to María Juana de los Angeles in 1845. She was an Indigenous woman. The size of the land was about "half a square league," which is a very large area.
California Becomes Part of the U.S.
After the Mexican–American War, California became part of the United States. This happened in 1848. The agreement that ended the war was called the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This treaty said that the United States would respect the land grants that Mexico had already given out.
Proving Ownership
To make sure these land grants were official under U.S. law, a new rule was made. This rule was part of the California Land Act of 1851. It said that people who had received land grants from Mexico had to prove their ownership. So, in 1852, a claim for Rancho Cuca was filed with the Public Land Commission. This commission was a group set up to check these land claims.
Official Ownership
After many years, the ownership of Rancho Cuca was officially confirmed. In 1879, the land was "patented" to María Juana de los Angeles. This means she received an official document, like a deed, from the U.S. government. This document proved she was the legal owner of the land.
