Rancho La Purísima Concepción facts for kids

Doña Juana Briones de Miranda, a very important woman in San Francisco's history, bought this rancho in 1844.

Rancho La Purísima Concepción was a huge piece of land, about 4,439 acres (17.96 km²), given out by the Mexican government in 1840. This land grant was located in what is now Santa Clara County, California. Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado gave it to two Ohlone Native American men, José Gorgonio and his son José Ramon. The rancho stretched from Matadero Creek to Adobe Creek and covered the area where Los Altos Hills is today.

What Was Rancho La Purísima Concepción?

This rancho was part of a system called the Ranchos of California, where the Mexican government gave out large areas of land. These land grants were often given to people who had served the government or to Native Americans who had lived on the land for a long time. The name "La Purísima Concepción" means "The Land of the Immaculate Conception" in Spanish.

Who Owned the Rancho First?

José Gorgonio and his son José Ramon were Ohlone Native Americans who had lived at the Mission Santa Clara de Asís. In 1844, José Gorgonio sold the rancho to a remarkable woman named Juana Briones de Miranda.

Meet Juana Briones de Miranda

Juana Briones (1802-1889) was a very important person in early California history. Her family had been in California for a long time, arriving with some of the first Spanish explorers. She married a soldier named Apolinario Miranda in 1820 but later got a legal separation, which was quite unusual for women at that time. Juana was known for being a strong, independent woman who owned land and ran businesses.

How Did the Rancho Change Hands?

After the Mexican–American War, California became part of the United States in 1848. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo said that the U.S. government would respect the land grants given by Mexico.

Claiming the Land in the United States

To make sure their land grants were still valid, people had to file a claim with the U.S. government. Juana Briones filed her claim for Rancho La Purísima Concepción in 1852. It took many years, but her ownership was officially confirmed in 1871.

Selling Parts of the Rancho

In 1861, Juana Briones sold about three-quarters of her rancho to Martin Murphy Jr. He was an important settler who had come to California in 1844. Juana kept the remaining 1,130 acres (4.57 km²) of the rancho and gave it to her children, who used their father's last name, Miranda.

Historic Sites of the Rancho

• Site of Juana Briones de Miranda Home.