Rancho Mission Viejo
Encyclopedia
Rancho Mission Viejo was a 23000 acres (93.1 km²) land grant given in 1845 to John Forster. Later it became a cattle ranch and leased land operation in what is now Mission Viejo, California
, in southeast Orange County, California
.
acquired Rancho La Paz and Mission San Juan Capistrano
. Forster added these properties to Rancho Trabuco
, which he had purchased in 1843. Forster's brother-in-law
was Pío Pico
, governor
of then-Mexican
-held California. In 1864, Forster added Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores
to his holdings. Forster died in 1882.
lands. Flood provided the money to purchase the ranches; and O'Neill, offering his skills as a cattleman as sweat equity, agreed to work out his half as resident manager. Under O'Neill, the cattle herd was upgraded and expanded, the land was improved, row crops were introduced, and the ranch became home to Orange County's biggest wheat fields.
In 1907, James L. Flood, son of the original owner, made good on his late father's promise and conveyed an undivided half interest to O'Neill, Sr. Four months later, declining health caused O'Neill to deed his interest to his son, Jerome. In 1923, the sons of Flood and O'Neill consolidated their partnership with the Santa Margarita Company. Shortly thereafter, both men died.
The Santa Margarita Co. was dissolved in 1939 when the ranch was split in two. Richard O'Neill Jr. retained the portion of the ranch located in Orange County (Rancho Mission Viejo and Rancho Trabuco) and the Flood family took the Rancho Santa Margarita y las Flores property in San Diego County
. In 1942, the United States Marine Corps
acquired the entire San Diego portion of 123620 acres (500.3 km²) for $4,239,062 to expand Camp Pendleton
. After the war, what remained of the historic Ranch now encompassed two Orange County parcels, united under the name Rancho Mission Viejo, and totaling 52000 acres (210.4 km²).
O'Neill died in 1943 and his widow, Marguerite, led the family and kept the family business intact. In June 1950, with the establishment of the 278 acres (1.1 km²) O'Neill Regional Park, the O'Neill family made the first of its many open space dedications to the people of Orange County; the family has since dedicated more than 9000 acres (36.4 km²) of open space to Orange County.
In 1972, when Mission Viejo Co. and its remaining undeveloped area in Mission Viejo were sold, Moiso began managing the remaining 40000 acres (161.9 km²) of Rancho Mission Viejo. Since that time, Moiso and his uncle, Richard O'Neill, have preserved more than 20000 acres (80.9 km²) of open space and moved forward with additional development of the former Rancho. Rancho Mission Viejo is still a working ranch with 600 head of cattle and has more than 500 acres (2 km²) of citrus trees, as well as crops of avocados, beans and barley.
Rancho Mission Viejo is today home to four master-planned communities: the City of Mission Viejo
, City of Rancho Santa Margarita
, Las Flores
, and Ladera Ranch
.
Additional development of remaining land was approved by Orange County in 2005, which will include 14,000 new homes, open space preservation and establishment of a regional park.
Mission Viejo, California
Mission Viejo is a city located in southern Orange County, California, U.S. in the Saddleback Valley. Mission Viejo is considered one of the largest master-planned communities ever built under a single project in the United States, and is rivaled only by Highlands Ranch, Colorado, in its size...
, in southeast Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
.
Mexican land grant
The ranch's history can be traced back to 1845 when John (Don Juan) ForsterJohn (Don Juan) Forster
John Forster was born in England; became a Mexican citizen of early California, and was one of the largest landowners in California.-Early life:...
acquired Rancho La Paz and Mission San Juan Capistrano
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Mission San Juan Capistrano was a Spanish mission in Southern California, located in present-day San Juan Capistrano. It was founded on All Saints Day November 1, 1776, by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order...
. Forster added these properties to Rancho Trabuco
Rancho Trabuco
Rancho Trabuco was a Mexican land grant in present day Orange County, California. The five square league grant consisted of two square leagues given in 1841 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Santiago Argüello plus three square leagues given in 1846 by Governor Pío Pico to John Forster. The name...
, which he had purchased in 1843. Forster's brother-in-law
Brother-in-law
A brother-in-law is the brother of one's spouse, the husband of one's sibling, or the husband of one's spouse's sibling.-See also:*Affinity *Sister-in-law*Brothers in Law , a 1955 British comedy novel...
was Pío Pico
Pío Pico
Pío de Jesús Pico was the last Governor of Alta California under Mexican rule.-Origins:...
, governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of then-Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
-held California. In 1864, Forster added Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores
Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores
Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores was a Mexican land grant in present day northwestern San Diego County, California given by governor Juan Alvarado in 1841 to Andrés Pico and Pio Pico...
to his holdings. Forster died in 1882.
Cattle ranch and leased land operation
In 1882, two Irish immigrants, Richard O'Neill Sr. and James Flood, acquired the ranch. Flood and O'Neill became equal partners of the Rancho Santa Margarita y las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo and Rancho TrabucoRancho Trabuco
Rancho Trabuco was a Mexican land grant in present day Orange County, California. The five square league grant consisted of two square leagues given in 1841 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Santiago Argüello plus three square leagues given in 1846 by Governor Pío Pico to John Forster. The name...
lands. Flood provided the money to purchase the ranches; and O'Neill, offering his skills as a cattleman as sweat equity, agreed to work out his half as resident manager. Under O'Neill, the cattle herd was upgraded and expanded, the land was improved, row crops were introduced, and the ranch became home to Orange County's biggest wheat fields.
In 1907, James L. Flood, son of the original owner, made good on his late father's promise and conveyed an undivided half interest to O'Neill, Sr. Four months later, declining health caused O'Neill to deed his interest to his son, Jerome. In 1923, the sons of Flood and O'Neill consolidated their partnership with the Santa Margarita Company. Shortly thereafter, both men died.
The Santa Margarita Co. was dissolved in 1939 when the ranch was split in two. Richard O'Neill Jr. retained the portion of the ranch located in Orange County (Rancho Mission Viejo and Rancho Trabuco) and the Flood family took the Rancho Santa Margarita y las Flores property in San Diego County
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
. In 1942, the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
acquired the entire San Diego portion of 123620 acres (500.3 km²) for $4,239,062 to expand Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and serves as its prime amphibious training base...
. After the war, what remained of the historic Ranch now encompassed two Orange County parcels, united under the name Rancho Mission Viejo, and totaling 52000 acres (210.4 km²).
O'Neill died in 1943 and his widow, Marguerite, led the family and kept the family business intact. In June 1950, with the establishment of the 278 acres (1.1 km²) O'Neill Regional Park, the O'Neill family made the first of its many open space dedications to the people of Orange County; the family has since dedicated more than 9000 acres (36.4 km²) of open space to Orange County.
The Mission Viejo Company
In 1963, the O'Neill family and its partners established The Mission Viejo Company and embarked on its first residential development, the 11000 acres (44.5 km²) planned community of Mission Viejo. Marguerite's grandson, Anthony "Tony" Moiso, newly graduated from college and fresh out of the U.S. Army, took over operations.In 1972, when Mission Viejo Co. and its remaining undeveloped area in Mission Viejo were sold, Moiso began managing the remaining 40000 acres (161.9 km²) of Rancho Mission Viejo. Since that time, Moiso and his uncle, Richard O'Neill, have preserved more than 20000 acres (80.9 km²) of open space and moved forward with additional development of the former Rancho. Rancho Mission Viejo is still a working ranch with 600 head of cattle and has more than 500 acres (2 km²) of citrus trees, as well as crops of avocados, beans and barley.
Rancho Mission Viejo is today home to four master-planned communities: the City of Mission Viejo
Mission Viejo, California
Mission Viejo is a city located in southern Orange County, California, U.S. in the Saddleback Valley. Mission Viejo is considered one of the largest master-planned communities ever built under a single project in the United States, and is rivaled only by Highlands Ranch, Colorado, in its size...
, City of Rancho Santa Margarita
Rancho Santa Margarita, California
Rancho Santa Margarita is a city in Orange County, California. One of Orange County's youngest cities, Rancho Santa Margarita is a master planned community set upon rolling hills. Most neighborhoods in Rancho Santa Margarita are within various homeowners associations...
, Las Flores
Las Flores, California
Las Flores is an unincorporated census-designated place in Orange County, California, located adjacent to the City of Rancho Santa Margarita, California. The population was 5,971 at the 2010 census, up from 5,625 at the 2000 census...
, and Ladera Ranch
Ladera Ranch, California
Ladera Ranch is a census-designated place and a planned community located in south Orange County, California just outside the city limits of San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Santa Margarita and Mission Viejo....
.
Additional development of remaining land was approved by Orange County in 2005, which will include 14,000 new homes, open space preservation and establishment of a regional park.