Rancho La Goleta facts for kids

Rancho La Goleta was a huge piece of land, about 4,426 acres, given out by the Mexican government. This happened in 1846 in what is now Santa Barbara County, California. The land was granted by Governor Pío Pico to a man named Daniel A. Hill. The rancho stretched along the Pacific coast. It went from today’s Fairview Avenue in Goleta all the way east to Hope Ranch. It was right next to another large ranch, Rancho Dos Pueblos, which belonged to Hill's son-in-law, Nicolas A. Den.

A Look Back at Rancho La Goleta

How the Land Grant Started

Daniel Antonio Hill received this large land grant, which was about one square league, in 1846. A "land grant" was like a big gift of land from the government.

Changes After the War

After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States. This was agreed upon in the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This treaty said that the land grants given by Mexico would still be honored.

In 1851, a new law called the Land Act was passed. It said that people who owned land grants had to prove their ownership. So, Daniel Hill filed a claim for Rancho La Goleta in 1852. His ownership was officially approved, or "patented," in 1865.

Gold Rush and Ranch Changes

The California Gold Rush started in 1848. This made Daniel Hill very rich! He sold beef from his ranch to the many miners looking for gold.

In 1856, Daniel Hill sold 400 acres of Rancho La Goleta to his son-in-law, T. Wallace More. He sold another 1,000 acres in 1864.

Sadly, Nicolas Den passed away in 1862, and Daniel Hill died in 1865. There were also very bad droughts in 1863 and 1864. These events led to the rancho being divided into smaller pieces for the first time.

Who Was Daniel A. Hill?

Daniel A. Hill (1797–1865) was born in Billerica, Massachusetts. He came to California from Hawaii in 1823. He settled in Santa Barbara. In 1826, he married Rafaela Sabina Luisa Ortega. Her grandfather was José Francisco Ortega, who also received a large land grant.

Daniel Hill's Many Talents

Daniel Hill was a very skilled person. He worked as a carpenter, a stonemason, and even made soap. He was also a farmer and a merchant, selling goods to people. He helped the padres (priests) with their farming and building projects.

He built several houses, including the Hill-Carrillo Adobe in 1825. This historic house is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Santa Barbara County, California. Daniel Hill was the person who received the Rancho La Goleta land grant. He passed away there in 1865.

His Family

Daniel Hill had several children. His daughter Rosa A. Hill married Nicholas A. Den. His daughter Josefa G. Hill married Alexander Smith Taylor. Another daughter, Susana Hill, married T. Wallace More. His daughter Maria Antonia married H. O'Neill. His son, Ramon J. Hill, became a state senator.