Rancho Tulucay facts for kids
Rancho Tulucay was a huge piece of land, about 8,866 acres, in what is now Napa County, California. The Mexican government gave this land as a special grant in 1841. Governor Manuel Jimeno gave it to a man named Cayetano Juarez.
The name "Tulucay" comes from the names "Tulkays" and "Ulucas." These were the names of Native American people who lived in a village in that area. The land grant was located on the east side of the Napa River. It stretched between Soscol Creek in the south and Sarco Creek in the north.
History of Rancho Tulucay
Cayetano Juarez was born in 1809. He was a soldier at the Presidio of San Francisco until 1836. In 1835, Juarez married Maria de Jesus Higuerra. She was the daughter of Francisco Higuerra.
In 1836, Juarez became a "mayordomo" in Sonoma, California. A mayordomo was like a manager. He helped General Mariano Vallejo manage land and work with the native people in the Napa and Sonoma areas. Because he served the Mexican government for ten years, Juarez was given the Rancho Tulucay land.
Even before the land grant was official, Cayetano Juarez moved his family to Napa Valley in 1840. That same year, he built his first adobe house. This house is still standing today! In 1844, he was chosen as "alcalde" of Sonoma. An alcalde was like a mayor or judge. In 1845, he built a second, bigger adobe house. He also received another land grant called Rancho Yokaya in Mendocino County, California.
After the Mexican–American War, California became part of the United States. This happened in 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This treaty said that the land grants given by Mexico would still be valid. So, in 1852, Cayetano Juarez officially claimed Rancho Tulucay with the United States government. His ownership of the land was confirmed in 1861.
Cayetano Juarez lived on the Rancho Tulucay land until he passed away in 1883. He was buried in the Tulocay Cemetery. He had donated the land for this cemetery in 1853.
Important Places on Rancho Tulucay
- The Cayetano Juarez Adobe: The first adobe house built by Juarez in 1840 is still standing. Today, it is used as a restaurant.
- Tulocay Cemetery: In 1859, Cayetano Juarez gave about 48 acres of his land to the City of Napa. This land was used to create the Tulocay Cemetery.
- Napa State Asylum: In 1872, Juarez sold about 192 acres of his Rancho Tulucay land. He sold it to the State of California. The state wanted to build a new hospital there. This new hospital would help with overcrowding at another hospital in Stockton.
