Rancho San Emidio facts for kids
Rancho San Emidio was a huge piece of land, about 17,710 acres (71.7 square kilometers), in what is now Kern County, California. It was a Mexican land grant given in 1842. Governor Juan Alvarado gave this land to José Antonio Dominguez. The rancho was located near San Emigdio Creek in the foothills of the San Emigdio Mountains. It stretched between Santiago Creek and Pleitito Creek.
People wonder about the name of the rancho. It might be a different way to spell "San Emigdio," which refers to Saint Emygdius. He is known as the protector saint against earthquakes. Another idea is that "Emidio" sounds like a word meaning "tired" or "weary." This might have been a joke!
The rancho was an important stop along El Camino Viejo. This means 'the old road' in Spanish. This old road was used in the 18th and 19th centuries. It ran along the eastern side of the San Joaquin Valley. Travelers used it to go from Pueblo de Los Angeles to places like the Mission Santa Clara de Asís and Rancho San Antonio near San Francisco Bay.
History of Rancho San Emidio
José Antonio Dominguez was born in 1796 and passed away in 1844. He was a soldier who served at the Presidio of Santa Barbara. In 1819, José Antonio Dominguez married Maria Francisca Antonia Villa. Their daughter, Maria Antonia Dominguez, later received her own land grant called Rancho Sisquoc. This rancho was located to the west, near what is now Lompoc.
José Antonio Dominguez received the Rancho San Emidio in 1842. This land grant was about four square leagues in size. Sadly, Dominguez died during the winter of 1843-1844. After his death, his wife and their seven children moved back to Santa Barbara. Later, John C. Frémont bought half of the rancho from the Dominguez family.
Ownership Changes Over Time
After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States. This happened with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. This treaty promised that the existing land grants would still be honored.
In 1853, a claim for Rancho San Emidio was filed. This was required by the Land Act of 1851. The claim was made with the Public Land Commission. The land was officially granted to Francisco Dominguez and John C. Frémont in 1866.
The Dominguez family's half of the rancho was sold to David W. Alexander and Francisco P. Temple. They then sold their share to E.C. Singletary. In 1860, John C. Frémont's half of the rancho went to his daughter, Frances Cornelia Fremont Porter. She sold her share in 1868 to Edward Fitzgerald Beale. Beale was also the owner of the large Tejon Ranch. Beale then sold his share to E.C. Singletary in 1877.
Finally, in 1878, James Ben Ali Haggin bought the entire Rancho San Emidio from E.C. Singletary. Singletary might have been working as an agent for Haggin. In 1890, Haggin transferred the rancho to the Kern County Land Company when it was formed.
