Rancho Sisquoc facts for kids

Rancho Sisquoc was a huge piece of land in what is now northeastern Santa Barbara County, California. It covered about 35,486 acres (which is about 143.6 square kilometers). This land was given out as a Mexican land grant in 1845. The grant was located along the Sisquoc River, east of today's Lompoc.

In 1845, the governor of California, Pío Pico, officially gave this land to María Antonia Dominguez de Caballero.

What Was Rancho Sisquoc?

Rancho Sisquoc was one of many large land grants given by the Mexican government. These grants were a way to encourage people to settle and develop the land. They were often used for ranching, especially raising cattle.

Early Owners of Rancho Sisquoc

The story of Rancho Sisquoc begins with María Antonia Dominguez de Cavalleri. She was granted the land in 1845. Her husband, Francisco Cavalleri (sometimes spelled "Caballero"), came to Santa Barbara in 1838. He married Maria Antonia Dominguez in 1841.

Maria Antonia's family had a history in California. Her grandfather, Ildefonso Dominguez, arrived as a soldier in 1781. Her father, José Antonio Dominguez, also received a land grant called Rancho San Emidio.

In 1851, Francisco Cavalleri and Maria Antonia Dominguez sold Rancho Sisquoc. The new owner was James B. Huie. He was an important person in San Francisco at the time.

Changes After the Mexican-American War

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 United States would respect the land grants given by Mexico.

To make sure these land claims were official, the U.S. government created the Land Act of 1851. This law required landowners to file a claim for their land. James B. Huie filed a claim for Rancho Sisquoc in 1852. The U.S. government officially recognized his ownership in 1866. This process is called having the land "patented."

New Owners and Companies

In the 1880s, Rockwell Stone bought Rancho Sisquoc. He owned a hardware store in San Francisco. After he passed away, his son and daughter inherited the rancho.

However, Rockwell Stone's son, Lucius D. Stone, faced financial problems. He lost his share of the rancho in 1888. This part of the land was then bought by William Harris.

Later, in 1892 and 1893, two men named John T. Porter and Thomas B. Bishop bought the remaining parts of the rancho. They bought the daughter's share and then William Harris's share. In 1899, these two men created a company called the Sisquoc Investment Company to manage the rancho.