Rancho Otay facts for kids

Rancho Otay was a very large piece of land, about 6,658 acres, located in what is now San Diego County, California. It was given out as a "land grant" by the Mexican government in 1829. The land stretched along the Otay River, near where the Lower Otay Reservoir is today.

What Was Rancho Otay?

Rancho Otay was a huge area of land, given by the Mexican government to private citizens. This was a common way to settle and develop land in California during the time it was part of Mexico. The grant for Rancho Otay was made in 1829 by Governor José María de Echeandía. He was the governor of Alta California, which was the Mexican territory that later became the state of California.

The Estudillo Family and Their Land

The person who received the Rancho Otay land grant was Magdelena Estudillo. Her brother, José Antonio Estudillo, also received a nearby land grant called Rancho Janal. Because both grants went to members of the same family, people often thought of them as one big ranch. The Estudillo family did not live on the ranch itself. Instead, they lived in the nearby town of San Diego.

Rancho Otay Becomes Part of the USA

After the Mexican–American War, California became part of the United States. This change happened in 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This treaty was an agreement that ended the war. It also said that the land grants given by the Mexican government would still be valid under U.S. law.

To make sure these land grants were official, the United States created the Public Land Commission in 1851. This commission was set up to check all the old land claims. Magdelena Estudillo filed a claim for Rancho Otay with this commission in 1852. After a long process, the land was officially confirmed as hers in 1872. This meant she had the legal right to the land under U.S. law.