Rancho Rosa Castilla facts for kids

Rancho Rosa Castilla was a large piece of land, about 3,283 acres, in what is now Los Angeles County, California. It was a Mexican land grant, meaning the Mexican government gave this land to a person. In 1831, Governor Manuel Victoria gave this land to a man named Juan Ballesteros.

This rancho included parts of modern-day areas like Rose Hills, Lincoln Heights, City Terrace, and El Sereno. It also covered parts of South Pasadena, Alhambra, and Monterey Park. After California became a U.S. state, the ownership of this land grant was not officially confirmed by the U.S. government.

History of Rancho Rosa Castilla

Naming the Rancho

The name "Rancho Rosa de Castilla" came from the many native Wood roses (Rosa californica) that grew along the local creek. The Kizh Native Americans, who lived in this area, called it Ochuunga, which means "Place of Roses."

When Spanish Franciscan missionaries started the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel in 1771, they named the small river there "El Rio Rosa de Castillo." Later, in 1831, the land was officially given to Juan Ballesteros. He was an important Californio person who worked for the government in the Pueblo of Los Angeles from 1823 to 1824. This is when the land was officially named Rancho Rosa de Castilla.

Changes After California Became a State

After the Mexican–American War, California became part of the United States. The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo said that the U.S. government would respect the land grants given by Mexico.

However, the U.S. government created a Public Land Commission to check all these land claims. In 1852, a priest named Anacleto Lestrade, from the San Gabriel Mission, tried to claim Rancho Rosa Castilla. But the Land Commission did not approve the claim for a few reasons. First, the exact borders of the land were not clear. Second, the original owner, Juan Ballesteros, had not lived on the land all the time, which was a rule.

New Owners and Division of Land

In 1852, the land's ownership went to Jean-Baptiste Batz and his wife, Catalina. Jean-Baptiste was an immigrant from the Basque region. He used the rancho for farming and raising many sheep.

After Jean-Baptiste and Catalina passed away in 1882, their land was divided. It was split among six of their children.