Rancho Agua Puerca y las Trancas
Encyclopedia
Rancho Agua Puerca y las Trancas was a 4421 acres (17.9 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Santa Cruz County, California given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
to Ramón Rodríguez and Francisco Alviso. "Agua Puerca" means "dirty water ravine" probably refers to the stagnant water in the stream which comes out at Davenport Landing, the original southerly boundary. "Las Trancas" means "the bars" and refers to placing poles for a gate or barrier in a narrow canyon just south of Waddell Creek
which formed the north boundary of the grant. The grant extended along the Pacific coast south from Canada de Las Trancas, past present day Swanton
, to the Arroyo Puerca near present day Davenport
. Scotts Creek
flows along almost the entire length of the grant.
, married Francisco Alviso's sister, Maria Rosa Alviso (1816–1890).
With the cession
of California to the United States following the Mexican-American War, the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
provided that the land grants would be honored. As required by the Land Act of 1851, a claim for Rancho Agua Puerca y las Trancas was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to Ramón Rodríguez and Francisco Alviso in 1867.
In 1846 Felipe Armas (1809–) married Maria Antonia Rodriguez, sister of Ramón Rodríguez. Marriage into this family enabled Felipe Armas to purchase Francisco Alviso's half of Rancho Agua Puerca y las Trancas in 1847.
In 1867, Rancho Agua Puerca y las Trancas was sold to James Archibald. Archibald arranged for a Swiss dairyman, Ambrogio Gianone, to run the dairy. Eventually, Gianone bought the north third of the rancho, which is now known as Gianone Hill. After Archibald died in 1875, his wife sold the remainder of the rancho to Joseph Bloom. The Swanton Pacific Ranch
comprises much of the original Rancho Agua Puerca y Las Trancas.
Ranchos of California
The Spanish, and later the Méxican government encouraged settlement of territory now known as California by the establishment of large land grants called ranchos, from which the English ranch is derived. Devoted to raising cattle and sheep, the owners of the ranchos attempted to pattern themselves...
in present day Santa Cruz County, California given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
Manuel Micheltorena
Manuel Micheltorena was a Brigadier General of the Mexican Army, Adjutant-General of the same, Governor, Commandant-General and Inspector of the Department of the California...
to Ramón Rodríguez and Francisco Alviso. "Agua Puerca" means "dirty water ravine" probably refers to the stagnant water in the stream which comes out at Davenport Landing, the original southerly boundary. "Las Trancas" means "the bars" and refers to placing poles for a gate or barrier in a narrow canyon just south of Waddell Creek
Waddell Creek
Waddell Creek is the name given to both the creek and the watershed that run through Big Basin Redwoods State Park in Santa Cruz County, California...
which formed the north boundary of the grant. The grant extended along the Pacific coast south from Canada de Las Trancas, past present day Swanton
Swanton, California
Swanton, California, is a small community in an unincorporated area of Santa Cruz County on the Pacific Ocean, situated about north of the town of Davenport, on Swanton Road ....
, to the Arroyo Puerca near present day Davenport
Davenport, California
Davenport is a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California. Davenport sits at an elevation of . The 2010 United States census reported Davenport's population was 408.-Situation:...
. Scotts Creek
Scotts Creek
Scotts Creek is a surfspot in Santa Cruz County, California. It is a few miles north of Davenport and a few miles south of Wadell Creek. On big north swells that occur during the winter, a large bowly right is enjoyed by many surfers. The spot has similarities to Swami's surfspot in San Diego...
flows along almost the entire length of the grant.
History
The one square league grant was made to brothers-in-law Ramón Rodríguez and Francisco Alviso. Ramón Rodríguez (1798–1876), brother of Sebastian Rodríguez of Rancho Bolsa del PajaroRancho Bolsa del Pajaro
Rancho Bolsa del Pajaro was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Cruz County, California given in 1837 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Sebastian Rodríguez. The name means "pocket of the Pajaro". Pocket usually refers to land surrounded by slough - in this case the Watsonville Slough...
, married Francisco Alviso's sister, Maria Rosa Alviso (1816–1890).
With the cession
Mexican Cession
The Mexican Cession of 1848 is a historical name in the United States for the region of the present day southwestern United States that Mexico ceded to the U.S...
of California to the United States following the Mexican-American War, the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is the peace treaty, largely dictated by the United States to the interim government of a militarily occupied Mexico City, that ended the Mexican-American War on February 2, 1848...
provided that the land grants would be honored. As required by the Land Act of 1851, a claim for Rancho Agua Puerca y las Trancas was filed with the Public Land Commission
Public Land Commission
The Public Land Commission, a former agency of the United States government, was created following the admission of California as a state in 1850 . The Commission's purpose was to determine the validity of prior Spanish and Mexican land grants in California.California Senator William M...
in 1852, and the grant was patented
Land patent
A land patent is a land grant made patent by the sovereign lord over the land in question. To make a such a grant “patent”, such a sovereign lord must document the land grant, securely sign and seal the document and openly publish the same to the public for all to see...
to Ramón Rodríguez and Francisco Alviso in 1867.
In 1846 Felipe Armas (1809–) married Maria Antonia Rodriguez, sister of Ramón Rodríguez. Marriage into this family enabled Felipe Armas to purchase Francisco Alviso's half of Rancho Agua Puerca y las Trancas in 1847.
In 1867, Rancho Agua Puerca y las Trancas was sold to James Archibald. Archibald arranged for a Swiss dairyman, Ambrogio Gianone, to run the dairy. Eventually, Gianone bought the north third of the rancho, which is now known as Gianone Hill. After Archibald died in 1875, his wife sold the remainder of the rancho to Joseph Bloom. The Swanton Pacific Ranch
Swanton Pacific Ranch
Swanton Pacific Ranch is a ranch in Santa Cruz County, California, outside the town of Davenport. The ranch is owned and operated by California Polytechnic State University for educational and research in sustainable agriculture...
comprises much of the original Rancho Agua Puerca y Las Trancas.