Rancho La Zaca facts for kids
Rancho La Zaca was a large piece of land, about 4,458-acre (18.04 km2) (which is like 1,800 football fields!), located in what is now central Santa Barbara County, California. This land was given out as a Mexican land grant in 1838.
A "land grant" meant the government gave someone a big area of land. For Rancho La Zaca, the land was given by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to a person named Antonio, who was an Indian. The ranch was located near Zaca Creek, and it was surrounded by other ranches like Rancho La Laguna.
The Story of Rancho La Zaca
Early Owners and Family Life
Later, a man named Cesario Lataillade became the owner of Rancho La Zaca. Cesario Armand Lataillade was a French trader who came to Santa Barbara in 1841. He was involved in trading animal hides (skins) and tallow (animal fat), which were important products back then.
In 1845, Cesario married Antonia María de la Guerra. She was the youngest daughter of a well-known person named José de la Guerra y Noriega. Cesario owned several other ranches too, including two called Rancho Cuyama and Rancho Corral de Cuati.
Sadly, Cesario Lataillade died in an accident in 1849. His wife and their two young children, Maria Antonia and Cesario Eugene, inherited all his properties, including Rancho La Zaca.
California Becomes Part of the U.S.
After the Mexican–American War, California became part of the United States. This happened because of a special agreement called the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. This treaty said that the land grants given by the Mexican government would still be valid.
To make sure these land grants were officially recognized by the U.S. government, a new law was passed in 1851. This law required people to file a claim for their land with a group called the Public Land Commission.
In 1852, a claim for Rancho La Zaca was filed. After many years, the land was officially granted to María Antonia de la Guerra y Lataillade in 1876. This meant she was the legal owner of the ranch under U.S. law.
