Rancho Llano de Santa Rosa facts for kids

Rancho Llano de Santa Rosa was a large piece of land in what is now Sonoma County, California. It was given as a Mexican land grant in 1844. The land, about 13,316 acres (53.89 km2), was granted by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Joaquín Carrillo. The name "Llano de Santa Rosa" means "Plains of Santa Rosa." This area was located west of Santa Rosa, near the Laguna de Santa Rosa, and included the land where Sebastopol, California is today.

What is a Land Grant?

A land grant was a way the Mexican government gave out large areas of land. These grants were often given to important people. The people who received the land were expected to develop it. They would use it for farming or raising animals. This helped to settle and grow the region.

Who Was Joaquín Carrillo?

Joaquín Victor Carrillo II (1820–1899) was an important person in early California. He was the oldest son of Joaquín Victor Carrillo I and María Ygnacia de la Candelaria López. His mother also had a nearby land grant called Rancho Cabeza de Santa Rosa.

Joaquín Carrillo applied for his land grant in 1844. By 1846, he built an adobe house on the western part of his rancho. This house was close to where Sebastopol is now.

Joaquín Carrillo's Life and Work

Joaquín Carrillo was a leader in his community. In 1846, he served as the alcalde (a type of mayor or judge) of Sonoma. During the Bear Flag Revolt, he was taken prisoner. This revolt was a short period when American settlers declared California independent from Mexico.

Later in his life, Joaquín Carrillo owned several businesses in Sebastopol. These included two hotels, a saloon, and a boarding house. He lived in Sebastopol until he passed away in 1899.

How Did the Land Become Part of the U.S.?

After the Mexican–American War, California became part of the United States. This happened with the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This treaty promised that existing Mexican land grants would still be recognized.

To make these grants official under U.S. law, people had to file a claim. Joaquín Carrillo filed a claim for Rancho Llano de Santa Rosa in 1852. His grant was officially confirmed in 1871. This process helped to make sure landowners had clear legal rights to their property.

Other Claims to the Land

Some other people also tried to claim parts of the Rancho Llano de Santa Rosa.

• In 1852, John Hendley and Joseph N. Nevill filed a claim for one square league of land. Their claim was not approved. Dr. John Hendley (1820–1875) was a doctor and came to California in 1850. He became Sonoma County's first treasurer and clerk.
• Also in 1852, Joseph M. Miller filed a claim for another square league. This claim was also rejected. Dr. Joseph Morgan Miller (1814–1875) came to California in 1850. He and John Walker opened a trading post in what is now Sebastopol. This trading post became the first Post Office in the area. Miller and Walker also bought about 4,000 acres (16 km2) of land from Joaquín Carrillo.