Rancho Temescal facts for kids
Rancho Temescal was a large piece of land, about 13,339 acres (54 square kilometers), in what is now Ventura County and Los Angeles County, California. It was a Mexican land grant given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Francisco Lopez and José Arellanes. The word “temescal” comes from a Native American word meaning "sweat bath" or "sweat lodge." This rancho was located in the eastern part of Ventura County, where Piru Creek meets the Santa Clara River, near the Topatopa Mountains. Today, the area includes Lake Piru and the town of Piru.
How Rancho Temescal Was Created
In 1843, Francisco Lopez and José Arellanes received the grant for Rancho Temescal. This grant covered about three square leagues of land. Later, the ownership of the rancho was transferred to Ramon de la Cuesta and Francisco Gonzales Ciminio.
Changes After the Mexican-American War
After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States in 1848. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo stated that the United States would respect the land grants given by Mexico. To make sure these grants were valid, a new law called the Land Act of 1851 was created.
In 1853, a claim for Rancho Temescal was submitted to the Public Land Commission. This commission was set up to check all the old land grants. At first, the commission said no to the claim because the boundaries of the rancho were not clear enough. However, a United States district court later agreed that the grant was valid. The US government then appealed this decision to the US Supreme Court. In 1863, the Supreme Court upheld the grant, meaning they agreed it was valid. The official document for the grant was finally issued to Ramon de la Cuesta in 1871.
New Owners and the Town of Piru
Later, Ygnacio del Valle, who owned the nearby Rancho San Francisco, bought Rancho Temescal. Ygnacio del Valle lived from 1808 to 1880.
In 1887, Ygnacio del Valle's sons sold Rancho Temescal to David C. Cook. Cook was from Elgin, Illinois, and had moved west because of his health. He was born in New York in 1850 and owned a publishing business. David C. Cook is known for founding the town of Piru on the land that was once part of Rancho Temescal.
