Rancho Potrero de Santa Clara facts for kids
Rancho Potrero de Santa Clara was a large piece of land in what is now Santa Clara County, California. It was about 1,939-acre (7.85 km2) in size. This land was given as a Mexican land grant in 1844. Governor Manuel Micheltorena gave it to James Alexander Forbes. The name "Potrero de Santa Clara" means "pasture lands of Santa Clara Mission." The rancho was located between the Santa Clara Mission and the old Pueblo of San José. It was south of where the San Jose International Airport is today.
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What Was Rancho Potrero de Santa Clara?
Rancho Potrero de Santa Clara was one of many land grants given by the Mexican government. These grants were a way to encourage people to settle in California. They also helped to develop the land. This rancho was a significant area for farming and raising animals.
Who Owned Rancho Potrero de Santa Clara?
The rancho had a few important owners over time. Each owner played a part in its history.
James Alexander Forbes: The First Owner
James Alexander Forbes was born in Scotland in 1805. He came to California in 1831, settling in a place called Yerba Buena. Later, he moved to the Santa Clara Valley. There, he married Maria Ana Galindo. Her father was in charge of the Santa Clara Mission.
In 1844, Forbes was given the Rancho Potrero de Santa Clara. This grant was about one square league in size.
Robert F. Stockton Buys the Rancho
In 1847, James Alexander Forbes sold the rancho. He sold it to Commodore Robert F. Stockton. Stockton was an important figure at the time.
How the United States Recognized the Land Grant
After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States. This happened with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. The treaty said that existing Mexican land grants would still be valid.
To make this official, a claim for Rancho Potrero de Santa Clara was filed. This happened in 1852 with the Public Land Commission. The rancho was officially given to Robert F. Stockton in 1861. This process was called "patenting" the land.
New Owners and the Railroad
In 1862, Stockton sold the rancho again. The new owners were Charles B. Polhemus and Henry Newhall. They had big plans for the land. They wanted to build railroad tracks through the valley. This shows how the land was changing from a rancho to a place for new developments.
