Rancho Arroyo Chico
Encyclopedia
Rancho Arroyo Chico was a 22214 acres (89.9 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Butte County, California
given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
to William Dickey. The name means 'little stream' and refers to Chico Creek. The grant was located along the north bank of Chico Creek, east of the Sacramento River
and encompassed present day Chico
.
, had all worked at one time for John Sutter
and were also partners in various mining ventures. George W. McKinstry, Jr. (1810 – 1882) came to California in 1846, and worked for John Sutter as clerk, sheriff of Northern California District, and assisted in the rescue of the Donner Party
. In 1858, McKinstry moved to San Diego and practised as a physician there until his death. Dickey wanted to return to his eastern home, and sold Rancho Arroyo Chico to George McKinstry in 1849.
Bidwell acquired Rancho Arroyo Chico in two separate purchases in 1849 and 1851. In 1849, George McKinstry sold an undivided half of Rancho Arroyo Chico to Bidwell. In 1850 George McKinstry sold the other half interest to Justus McKinstry; and in 1851, Justus McKinstry sold this half-interest to John Bidwell.
John Bidwell (1819 – 1900) was born in Chautauqua County, New York
, and lead the Bartleson-Bidwell Party
to California in 1841. John Sutter
employed Bidwell as his business manager shortly after Bidwell's arrival in California. Bidwell obtained the two square league Rancho Colus
Mexican land grant in 1845. In 1848, John Bidwell discovered gold in Feather River
, at a place now call Bidwells Bar
.
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 Arroyo Chico was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to John Bidwell in 1860.
Chico was founded in 1860 by John Bidwell, who laid out the community on the land of his Rancho Arroyo Chico on the north side of Chico Creek, and part of Rancho Farwell
on the south side of Chico Creek.
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 Butte County, California
Butte County, California
Butte County is a county located in the Central Valley of the US state of California, north of the state capital of Sacramento. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 220,000. The county seat is Oroville. Butte County is the "Land of Natural Wealth and Beauty."Butte County is watered by the...
given in 1844 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 William Dickey. The name means 'little stream' and refers to Chico Creek. The grant was located along the north bank of Chico Creek, east of the Sacramento River
Sacramento River
The Sacramento River is an important watercourse of Northern and Central California in the United States. The largest river in California, it rises on the eastern slopes of the Klamath Mountains, and after a journey south of over , empties into Suisun Bay, an arm of the San Francisco Bay, and...
and encompassed present day Chico
Chico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
.
History
William Dickey, George McKinstry, and John BidwellJohn Bidwell
John Bidwell was known throughout California and across the nation as an important pioneer, farmer, soldier, statesman, politician, prohibitionist and philanthropist...
, had all worked at one time for John Sutter
John Sutter
Johann Augus Sutter was a Swiss pioneer of California known for his association with the California Gold Rush by the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall and the mill making team at Sutter's Mill, and for establishing Sutter's Fort in the area that would eventually become Sacramento, the...
and were also partners in various mining ventures. George W. McKinstry, Jr. (1810 – 1882) came to California in 1846, and worked for John Sutter as clerk, sheriff of Northern California District, and assisted in the rescue of the Donner Party
Donner Party
The Donner Party was a group of American pioneers who set out for California in a wagon train. Delayed by a series of mishaps, they spent the winter of 1846–47 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada...
. In 1858, McKinstry moved to San Diego and practised as a physician there until his death. Dickey wanted to return to his eastern home, and sold Rancho Arroyo Chico to George McKinstry in 1849.
Bidwell acquired Rancho Arroyo Chico in two separate purchases in 1849 and 1851. In 1849, George McKinstry sold an undivided half of Rancho Arroyo Chico to Bidwell. In 1850 George McKinstry sold the other half interest to Justus McKinstry; and in 1851, Justus McKinstry sold this half-interest to John Bidwell.
John Bidwell (1819 – 1900) was born in Chautauqua County, New York
Chautauqua County, New York
-Major highways:* Interstate 86/New York State Route 17 * Interstate 90 * U.S. Route 20* U.S. Route 62* New York State Route 5* New York State Route 39* New York State Route 60* New York State Route 394...
, and lead the Bartleson-Bidwell Party
Bartleson-Bidwell Party
In 1841, the Bartleson–Bidwell Party led by Captain John Bartleson and John Bidwell, became the first American emigrants to attempt a wagon crossing from Missouri to California.-The trail:...
to California in 1841. John Sutter
John Sutter
Johann Augus Sutter was a Swiss pioneer of California known for his association with the California Gold Rush by the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall and the mill making team at Sutter's Mill, and for establishing Sutter's Fort in the area that would eventually become Sacramento, the...
employed Bidwell as his business manager shortly after Bidwell's arrival in California. Bidwell obtained the two square league Rancho Colus
Rancho Colus
Rancho Colus was a Mexican land grant in present day Colusa County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to John Bidwell. The name is derived from the name of a Native American tribe living on the west side of the Sacramento River...
Mexican land grant in 1845. In 1848, John Bidwell discovered gold in Feather River
Feather River
The Feather River is the principal tributary of the Sacramento River, in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California. The river's main stem is about long. Its length to its most distant headwater tributary is about . Its drainage basin is about...
, at a place now call Bidwells Bar
Bidwell's Bar, California
Bidwell's Bar was a gold mining camp in Butte County, California, United States, which lay at the end of the California Trail...
.
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 Arroyo Chico 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 John Bidwell in 1860.
Chico was founded in 1860 by John Bidwell, who laid out the community on the land of his Rancho Arroyo Chico on the north side of Chico Creek, and part of Rancho Farwell
Rancho Farwell
Rancho Farwell was a Mexican land grant in present day Butte County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Edward A. Farwell. The grant was located east of the Sacramento River along the south bank of Chico Creek and encompassed part of present day Chico. -History:Edward...
on the south side of Chico Creek.
Historic sites of the Rancho
- Bidwell Mansion State Historic ParkBidwell Mansion State Historic ParkBidwell Mansion, located at 525 Esplanade in Chico, California, was the home of General John Bidwell and Annie Bidwell from the late 1868 until 1900, when Gen. Bidwell died. Annie continued to live there until her death in 1918...
. John Bidwell began construction of the mansion in 1865.