Rancho Santa Clara del Norte facts for kids
Rancho Santa Clara del Norte was a very large piece of land, about 13,989 acres (or 56.6 square kilometers), in what is now Ventura County, California. It was a special type of land grant given out by the Mexican government. This rancho was located on the Oxnard Plain, near the south side of the Santa Clara River.
In 1837, the governor at the time, Juan B. Alvarado, gave this land to a man named Juan Maria Sanchez. Today, the area that was once Rancho Santa Clara del Norte includes parts of Oxnard and El Rio.
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History of Rancho Santa Clara del Norte
Juan Maria Sanchez (1791–1873) was the first owner of Rancho Santa Clara del Norte. He had been a soldier at the Presidio of Santa Barbara, which was like a fort. He was married to Maria Ynes Josefa Guevara.
California Becomes Part of the U.S.
After the Mexican–American War, California became part of the United States in 1848. This change was agreed upon in a document called the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This treaty said that the land grants given by the Mexican government would still be recognized.
To make sure these land claims were official, the U.S. government created the Land Act of 1851. This law required landowners to prove they owned their land. Juan Maria Sanchez filed a claim for Rancho Santa Clara del Norte in 1852. His ownership was officially confirmed, or "patented," in 1869.
New Owners of the Rancho
In 1864, there were some very bad droughts, which are long periods without rain. This made it hard for Sanchez to keep the rancho. So, he sold Rancho Santa Clara del Norte to three brothers from Italy: Antonio, Frederico, and Leopoldo Schiappa Pietra.
Antonio Schiappa Pietra came to California in 1853. He opened a general store in Ventura in 1857. His brothers later joined him. After Frederico passed away, Leopoldo Schiappa Pietra eventually sold the rancho in 1902. It was bought by a company called California Farm and Fruit Company.
Historic Sites of the Rancho
- Sanchez Adobe — This was the home built by Juan Maria Sanchez in 1838. A second floor was added to the house in 1900.
