Rancho El Cajon facts for kids
Rancho El Cajón was a huge piece of land, about 48,800 acres, given out by the Mexican government in 1845. It was located in what is now San Diego County, California. The land was given by Governor Pío Pico to María Antonia Estudillo de Pedrorena. The name "El Cajón" means "the box" in Spanish. This name describes the valley, which is surrounded by hills like a box.
This large land grant included many places you might know today. These are El Cajon, Bostonia, Santee, Lakeside, Flinn Springs, and the eastern part of La Mesa. A smaller grant, Rancho Cañada de los Coches, which was about 28 acres, was also part of this larger area.
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What is Rancho El Cajón?
Rancho El Cajón was a type of land grant given by the Mexican government. These grants were a way to encourage people to settle and develop land in California. They were often very large and used for ranching, especially raising cattle.
How Big Was Rancho El Cajón?
Rancho El Cajón covered about 48,800 acres. To give you an idea, that's like more than 37,000 football fields! It was a massive area of land.
Where Was Rancho El Cajón Located?
This historic ranch was located in present-day San Diego County, California. It covered the areas where many towns now stand, including El Cajon, Santee, and Lakeside.
History of Rancho El Cajón
The land that became Rancho El Cajón was once owned by the San Diego Mission. In 1845, the Mexican government granted this large area to María Antonia Estudillo. She was the wife of Miguel Pedrorena.
Who Was Miguel Pedrorena?
Miguel Pedrorena was born in Madrid, Spain, in 1808. He moved to California from Peru in 1838. He was a businessman who ran a trading company. Miguel Pedrorena married María Antonia Estudillo. Her father, José Antonio Estudillo, was an important leader in San Diego called an alcalde (like a mayor).
The land grant was first called Rancho Santa Monica. Later, its name was changed to Rancho El Cajón.
Changes After the Mexican-American War
After the Mexican–American War, California became part of the United States. This happened with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. This treaty promised that the land grants given by Mexico would still be honored.
So, in 1852, a claim for Rancho El Cajón was made. This was done by Thomas W. Sutherland, who was the guardian for Miguel Pedrorena's children. The claim went through the legal system and was confirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States. The official ownership document for the land was finally issued in 1876.
New Owners and Development
In 1868, a land developer from Los Angeles named Isaac Lankershim bought most of the Rancho El Cajón land from the Pedrorena family. He hired a man named Major Levi Chase to help him manage the land. Major Chase, who had been an officer in the Union Army, received about 7,624 acres of the land for his work. This part became known as the Chase Ranch.
Lankershim also hired Amaziah L. Knox to manage the rest of Rancho El Cajón. Knox was from New England and had met Lankershim in San Francisco. These new owners began to develop the vast ranch lands.
