Rancho Simi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rancho Simi |
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| Location | 137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley, California |
| Official name: Rancho Simi | |
| Reference no. | 979 |
Rancho Simi was a huge piece of land in California. It was given out by the Spanish government way back in 1795. This land, about 113,009 acres (or 457 square kilometers), is now parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
The first person to receive this land was Santiago Pico. He was the start of the important Pico family of California. After Santiago Pico passed away in 1815, the land was given again to his sons: Javier, Patricio, and Miguel Pico. The name "Simi" comes from "Shimiji," which was the name of a Chumash village. This village had been in the Simi Valley for thousands of years before the Spanish arrived.
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What is Rancho Simi?
Rancho Simi was a special type of land gift from the Spanish government. These gifts were called "land concessions" or "land grants." They were given out in a place called Alta California, which is now the state of California.
Who Owned Rancho Simi First?
In 1795, the Spanish government gave Rancho Simi to Santiago Pico. He was the first owner. When Santiago Pico died in 1815, the Spanish government gave the land to his three sons: Javier, Patricio, and Miguel Pico.
How Did the Rancho Change Hands?
Years later, in 1842, a Captain named José de la Guerra y Noriega bought Rancho Simi from the Pico family. Captain de la Guerra was a powerful person who owned a lot of land in California. He used his land to raise cattle. The Mexican Governor, Juan Alvarado, officially approved this land sale in 1842.
After the Mexican–American War ended in 1848, California became part of the United States. The new government promised to respect the land grants that had been made by Spain and Mexico. So, in 1852, a claim for Rancho Simi was filed with the United States government. The land was officially given to José de la Guerra y Noriega in 1865.
What Happened to the De la Guerra Family?
José de la Guerra y Noriega passed away in 1858. His sons kept running the rancho. But in the 1860s, there were several years of very bad droughts. This caused the family to lose a lot of their cattle and money.
In 1865, the De la Guerra family lost most of Rancho Simi. They only kept a small part of it, which became known as Rancho Tapo. The rest of Rancho Simi was sold to a company called the Philadelphia and California Petroleum Company. This company was led by Thomas Alexander Scott, who was the president of a big railroad company.
The company hoped to find a lot of oil on the land, but they didn't. So, Thomas Scott started selling off parts of the rancho. In 1887, a new company called the Simi Land and Water Company bought a large part of the rancho.
The city of Simi Valley, California was officially created in 1969.
What Was Rancho Tapo?
Rancho Tapo was a smaller part of the original Rancho Simi. Even though it was part of the same big land grant, people started thinking of it as a separate place around 1820-1830. The last members of the De la Guerra family who lived in Simi Valley moved to this 14,400-acre section. They tried to keep their land, but by the 1880s, Rancho Tapo also slipped from their ownership.
Historic Places at Rancho Simi
- Simi Adobe–Strathearn House – This was the home of Robert P. Strathearn and served as the main office for the rancho. Today, it is part of the Strathearn Historical Park and Museum.
