Rancho El Rincon (Arellanes) facts for kids
Rancho El Rincon was a large piece of land, about 4,460 acres (which is about 18 square kilometers). It was a Mexican land grant, meaning the Mexican government gave it away. This happened in 1835. The land was given by Governor José Figueroa to a man named Teodoro Arellanes. The name "Rincon" means "corner" in Spanish. This rancho was located along the Pacific coast, right where Santa Barbara County and Ventura County meet today. It included places like Rincon Point, Rincon State Beach, and the town of La Conchita.
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History of Rancho El Rincon
The story of Rancho El Rincon begins with José Teodoro Arellanes. He was born in 1782. Teodoro was a soldier at the Presidio of Santa Barbara, which was like a fort. He first married María Sirilda Procopia Ruiz in 1802. After she passed away, he married Maria Josefa Rodriguez in 1812.
Land Grants for Teodoro Arellanes
Teodoro Arellanes received the Rancho El Rincon land grant in 1835. This grant was about one square league in size. Later, in 1840, he also received another large piece of land called Rancho Guadalupe.
Changes After the Mexican-American War
After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States. This happened in 1848. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, which said that the land grants given by Mexico would still be valid.
To make sure these land claims were official, the United States passed the Land Act of 1851. This law required people to file a claim for their land. Teodoro Arellanes filed a claim for Rancho El Rincon in 1852. The government officially recognized his ownership of the land in 1872. This official recognition is called a patent.
New Owners of the Rancho
In 1855, Teodoro Arellanes gave Rancho El Rincon to his son-in-law, Dr. Matthew H. Biggs. Dr. Biggs had married Teodoro's daughter, Maria de Jesus Arellanes, in 1853.
Years later, in 1882, Dr. Biggs sold the rancho. He sold it to Benigno Gutierrez and Dr. Charles B. Bates. Benigno Gutierrez had been Dr. Biggs's business partner before.
