Rancho Mission Vieja de la Purisma facts for kids
Rancho Mission Vieja de la Purisma was a very large piece of land, about 4,414 acres (17.86 square kilometers), given by the Mexican government in 1845. It was located in what is now northern Santa Barbara County, California. Governor Pío Pico gave this land to two brothers, Joaquín Carrillo and José Antonio Carrillo. This rancho included the original spot of Mission La Purísima Concepción, which is north of the city of Lompoc today.
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History of the Rancho
Who Were the Carrillo Brothers?
Joaquín Carrillo and José Antonio Carrillo were the sons of Domingo Antonio Ygnacio Carrillo. José Joaquín Carrillo (1801-1868) was a judge in Santa Barbara County from 1851 to 1853. The Carrillo brothers also received another land grant called Rancho Lompoc.
California Becomes Part of the U.S.
After the Mexican–American War, California became part of the United States. This change happened with 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 land ownership was clear, a new law was made in 1851. This law required people to prove they owned their land. The Carrillo brothers filed a claim for Rancho Mission Vieja de la Purisma in 1852. Their ownership was officially recognized in 1873.
Changes in Ownership
Around 1855, the cattle business in California started to slow down. In 1860, the Carrillo brothers sold Rancho Mission Vieja de la Purisma. They sold it to the More brothers, who owned the most land in Santa Barbara County at that time.
The More brothers also owned the nearby Rancho Lompoc and Rancho Santa Paula y Saticoy. They even owned Santa Rosa Island and Rancho Sespe. But in the early 1860s, there were very bad droughts. These droughts made it hard to raise animals and grow crops. Because of this, the More brothers had to split up their lands.
In 1863, a group of wealthy sheep owners bought Rancho Lompoc and Rancho Mission Vieja de la Purisma. This group included Col. W.W. Hollister, W.H. Hollister, Joseph W. Cooper, and Thomas Dibblee.
Historic Places Nearby
