Rancho San Simeon facts for kids

Rancho San Simeon was a large piece of land, about 4,469 acres (or about 18 square kilometers), given away by the Mexican government in 1842. This land grant was located in what is now San Luis Obispo County, California. It was given by Governor Juan Alvarado to a man named José Ramón Estrada. The land stretched along the Pacific Coast, from Pico Creek down to San Simeon Creek, and included the area where the town of San Simeon Acres is today.

A Look Back: Rancho San Simeon's Story

This section tells the story of Rancho San Simeon, from its first owner to how it became part of a famous family's property.

Who Owned Rancho San Simeon First?

The first owner of Rancho San Simeon was José Ramón Estrada. He was born in Monterey, California, in 1811. His father, José Mariano Estrada, also received a large land grant called Rancho Buena Vista. Ramón Estrada was an important person in his community. He managed Mission Santa Clara in 1835 and received another land grant called Rancho El Toro that same year. He was also a mayor (called an alcalde) in Monterey in 1836. From 1841 to 1843, he was a high-ranking official in the Monterey area.

Rancho San Simeon was originally part of the grazing lands for Mission San Miguel. In 1842, this one-square-league (a way to measure land) area was officially granted to José Ramón Estrada.

How the Land Changed Hands

Sadly, José Ramón Estrada passed away in 1845. Before he died, he sold Rancho San Simeon to a Mexican priest named José Miguel Gomez.

After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States. This happened in 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This treaty promised that the land grants given by Mexico would still be valid. To make sure this happened, a new law was created in 1851 called the Land Act. Under this law, José Miguel Gomez filed a claim for Rancho San Simeon in 1852. His ownership of the land was officially confirmed, or patented, in 1865. This meant he had the legal right to the land.

The Hearst Family Connection

In 1865, a very successful miner named George Hearst began buying land in this area. He had made a lot of money during the California Gold Rush. George Hearst later became a US Senator. His first purchases included most of Rancho Piedra Blanca and part of Rancho Santa Rosa.

Then, in 1867, George Hearst bought Rancho San Simeon from José Miguel Gomez. This large property later passed down to his son, William Randolph Hearst. William Randolph Hearst became a famous newspaper publisher and built the well-known Hearst Castle nearby.