Rancho San Miguelito facts for kids
Rancho San Miguelito was a very large piece of land in California. It was about 14,198-acre (57.46 km2) big. This land was given out by the Mexican government as a special "land grant." It was located in what is now San Luis Obispo County, California.
The first part of the land was given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Miguel Ávila. Later, in 1846, Governor Pio Pico added even more land to it. This big rancho stretched along the Pacific coast. It included famous spots like Point San Luis, San Luis Obispo Bay, and today's Avila Beach.
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The Story of Miguel Ávila
Miguel Ávila was born in 1796 and lived until 1874. His father, Jose de Santa Ana Avila, was a Spanish soldier. He worked at the presidio of Santa Barbara, which was like a fort.
Miguel Ávila also became a soldier. In 1816, he was part of a group in Monterey. By 1824, he was a corporal, a type of leader, at Mission San Luis Obispo.
In 1826, Miguel Ávila moved to Monterey. He had some disagreements with the mission priests. In Monterey, he married Maria Inocenta Pico. Her father was Jose Dolores Pico.
Miguel Ávila received the Rancho San Miguelito land grant in 1842. He was an important person in the area. In 1849, he became the alcalde (a kind of mayor or judge) of San Luis Obispo.
How Land Grants Worked
When California was part of Mexico, the government gave out large pieces of land. These were called "land grants" or ranchos. They were given to people who promised to use the land. This helped to settle and develop the area.
After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States. This happened in 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This treaty said that the U.S. would respect the land grants given by Mexico.
Confirming the Land Grants
To make sure the land grants were real, the U.S. government created a special group. It was called the Public Land Commission. People who had received land grants had to file a claim with this commission.
Miguel Ávila filed a claim for Rancho San Miguelito in 1852. The commission looked at his claim and confirmed it. He also asked for an additional two square leagues of land. However, this extra request was not approved.
Finally, in 1877, the ownership of the rancho was officially given to Miguel Ávila. This official document is called a "land patent."
Historic Places on the Rancho
