Rancho Los Alamos facts for kids
Rancho Los Álamos was a huge piece of land, about 48,803 acres (197.5 km2), in what is now Santa Barbara County, California. It was given out as a Mexican land grant in 1839 by Governor Juan Alvarado to José Antonio de la Guerra. The name "Los Álamos" means "the cottonwoods" in Spanish. It describes the Frémont's Cottonwood trees that grew along the San Antonio Creek.
History of Rancho Los Álamos
In 1839, when Mexico ruled Alta California (which is now California), José Antonio de la Guerra received this large land grant. He was given the official right to own Rancho Los Álamos in the Los Alamos Valley. His wife, Concepción Ortega, came to live at the ranch's adobe house.
After the Mexican–American War, California became part of the United States. This happened because of the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This treaty said that the land grants given by Mexico would still be valid.
To make these land claims official under U.S. law, a special claim for Rancho Los Álamos was made in 1852. This was done with the Public Land Commission. The land grant was officially confirmed to de la Guerra in 1872.
Later, in 1876, a rich businessman from San Francisco named Thomas Bell bought parts of Rancho Los Álamos. His son, John S. Bell, and another person, James B. Shaw, also bought land from this ranch and a nearby one called Rancho La Laguna. These families decided to set aside some of their new land to create the town of Los Alamos, California. They made "Centennial Street" the main road in the new town.
Historic Sites of the Rancho
- Los Alamos Ranch House: This is a one-story adobe ranch house that was built around 1840. It was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1970 because of its importance.
