Rancho Rinconada de Los Gatos facts for kids

El Rancho Rinconada de los Gatos was a huge piece of land, about 6,631 acres (26.8 km²), in what is now Santa Clara County, California. This land was given as a Mexican land grant in 1840 by Governor Juan Alvarado to two men, Jose Maria Hernandez and Sebastian Fabian Peralta.

The rancho was located in the southern San Francisco Bay Area. It included the areas where the cities of Los Gatos and Monte Sereno are today. It also covered about a third of Campbell, and small parts of San Jose, Saratoga, and other areas in Santa Clara County. The Los Gatos Creek flowed right through the middle of this land.

The name "Rinconada de los Gatos" means "corner of the cats." This name comes from the cougars (also known as mountain lions) that still live in the nearby hills. The "corner" part refers to the way the land narrows between the El Sereno and El Sombroso mountains.

History of Rancho Rinconada de los Gatos

In 1840, Sebastian Peralta and José Hernandez received the Rancho Rinconada de Los Gatos. These two men were brothers-in-law, married to two sisters from the Sibrian family.

Sebastian Fabian Peralta (born in 1794) first married María Gregoria Sibrian in 1831. After she passed away, he married María Paula Sepulveda in 1846. Sebastian was an important person in the town of San José, serving as a "regidor," which was like a town council member.

José Maria Hernandez (born in 1802) married Maria Gertrudis Sibrian in 1830. After she died, he married Maria Espectacion Pena. They built their adobe (mud-brick) home in the area where Vasona Park is located today.

Changes After the Mexican-American War

After the Mexican–American War ended in 1848, California became part of the United States. The peace agreement, called the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, promised that the United States would respect the land grants given by Mexico.

To make sure these land claims were official, the U.S. government passed the Land Act of 1851. This law required people to prove they owned their land. So, in 1852, a claim for Rancho Rinconada de Los Gatos was filed with the Public Land Commission. The land was officially "patented" (meaning the ownership was legally confirmed) to Sebastian Peralta and José Hernandez in 1860.

Later Developments

Around 1853, about 2,000 acres (8.1 km²) of the rancho were sold to a man named James Alexander Forbes (1805–1881). He built a flour mill there, which became known as Forbes Mill. The mill started working in 1855, but Forbes faced financial problems and went bankrupt in 1857.

Over time, parts of the original rancho land became new cities. Los Gatos was officially made a city in 1887. Later, Campbell became a city in 1952, and Monte Sereno was incorporated in 1957. All these cities contain large sections of the land that was once Rancho Rinconada de Los Gatos.

Rancho Rinconada de los Gatos Boundaries

The boundaries of Rancho Rinconada de los Gatos followed natural features.

• A natural lake, now part of Los Gatos Creek Park, was on the eastern side.
• San Tomas Aquino Creek flowed along the western and northwestern edges.
• Ross Creek was in the southeastern part of the rancho.

Today, if you look at a map, the rancho's boundaries would roughly include:

• The northwestern and western edge followed San Tomas Aquino Creek, going past areas like John D. Morgan Park and Westmont High School.
• The western corner was near where San Tomas Aquino Creek meets Canon Drive.
• The southwestern boundary was generally parallel to State Route 9.
• The southwest corner was close to the Santa Cruz Avenue exit from State Route 17.
• The southeast corner was near where Kennedy Road crosses Ross Creek.
• The eastern corner was near the intersection of Camino del Cerro and Blossom Hill Road.
• The northern boundary was around Rincon Avenue, across the northern end of John D. Morgan Park in central Campbell.

See also

In Spanish: Rancho Rinconada de Los Gatos para niños