Rancho Rinconada de Los Gatos
Encyclopedia
El Rancho Rinconada de los Gatos was a 6631 acres (26.8 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Santa Clara County, California
made in 1840 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Jose Maria Hernandez and Sebastian Fabian Peralta. Located in the southern San Francisco Bay Area
, the grant included present day Los Gatos
and Monte Sereno
, along with about a third of Campbell
. It also included small sections of present day San Jose
, Saratoga
and unincorporated Santa Clara County. Los Gatos Creek
flowed through the center of the rancho. The name means "corner of the cats" and is derived from the Cougars
that are still present in the nearby hills, as well as the "corner" formed by the narrowing gap between El Sereno
and El Sombroso mountains.
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 Rinconada de Los Gatos was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to Sebastian Peralta and José Hernandez in 1860.
Approximately 2000 acres (8.1 km²) were sold to James Alexander Forbes (1805-1881)
in 1853, whereupon he built Forbes Mill
. The mill began operating in 1855, but Forbes went bankrupt in 1857.
Three cities have been incorporated containing large sections of land from the grant: Los Gatos in 1887, Campbell in 1952, and Monte Sereno in 1957.
was on the Eastern boundary. San Tomas Aquino Creek flowed around the Western and Northwestern edges. Ross Creek was in the Southeast. The boundaries, denoted with modern landmarks, were:
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 Clara County, California
Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley...
made in 1840 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Jose Maria Hernandez and Sebastian Fabian Peralta. Located in the southern San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, the grant included present day Los Gatos
Los Gatos, California
The Town of Los Gatos is an incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 29,413 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area at the southwest corner of San Jose in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains...
and Monte Sereno
Monte Sereno, California
Monte Sereno is a city in Santa Clara County, California, USA. The population was 3,341 at the 2010 census. The city is located in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, about 10 miles southwest of San Jose and is immediately northwest of Los Gatos. The city is named for the 2249 ft...
, along with about a third of Campbell
Campbell, California
Campbell is a city in Santa Clara County, California, a suburb of San Jose, and part of Silicon Valley, in the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Campbell's population is 39,349...
. It also included small sections of present day San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, Saratoga
Saratoga, California
Saratoga is a city in Santa Clara County, California, USA. It is located on the west side of the Santa Clara Valley, directly west of San Jose, in the San Francisco Bay area. The population was 29,926 at the 2010 census....
and unincorporated Santa Clara County. Los Gatos Creek
Los Gatos Creek (Santa Clara County, California)
The Los Gatos Creek runs 24 miles in California through Santa Clara Valley Water District's Guadalupe Watershed from the Santa Cruz Mountains northward through the Santa Clara Valley until its confluence with the Guadalupe River in downtown San Jose...
flowed through the center of the rancho. The name means "corner of the cats" and is derived from the Cougars
Cougars
Cougars is a Chicago-based rock band signed to the New York-based label Go-Kart Records.The Cougars' music is often compared to that of Rocket from the Crypt...
that are still present in the nearby hills, as well as the "corner" formed by the narrowing gap between El Sereno
El Sereno Open Space Preserve
El Sereno Open Space Preserve is a park unit of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District located on the peak and slopes of 2249 ft. El Sereno mountain, a peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The preserve is located in Santa Clara County, California....
and El Sombroso mountains.
History
Sebastian Peralta and José Hernandez, brothers-in-law married to two Sibrian sisters, were granted the one and one half square league Rancho Rinconada de Los Gatos in 1840. Sebastian Fabian Peralta (1794–) married María Gregoria Sibrian (1806–1837) in 1831. After she died, he married María Paula Sepulveda, widow of Francisco Pacheco, in 1846. He was regidor of San José. José Maria Hernandez (1802–) married Maria Gertrudis Sibrian (1810–1851) in 1830. After she died, he married Maria Espectacion Pena. They built an adobe home where Vasona Park is now.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 Rinconada de Los Gatos 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 Sebastian Peralta and José Hernandez in 1860.
Approximately 2000 acres (8.1 km²) were sold to James Alexander Forbes (1805-1881)
James Alexander Forbes (1805-1881)
James Alexander Forbes was the British vice-consul to Mexican California as well as the first British consul to the U.S. state of California...
in 1853, whereupon he built Forbes Mill
Forbes Mill
Forbes Mill is a now-defunct flour mill originally built in 1854 located in Los Gatos, California, which now serves as a museum after having been saved from destruction in 1982. The mill is the first commercial building to be established in the city of Los Gatos...
. The mill began operating in 1855, but Forbes went bankrupt in 1857.
Three cities have been incorporated containing large sections of land from the grant: Los Gatos in 1887, Campbell in 1952, and Monte Sereno in 1957.
Grant boundaries
The natural lake in what is now Los Gatos Creek ParkLos Gatos Creek Park
Los Gatos Creek Park is a park in Campbell, California, a town that is bisected by the Los Gatos Creek.-Location:Vehicular access is off of Dell Avenue, just North of East Hacienda Avenue. A parking lot is at the end of the access lane. California State Route 17 runs just to the East of the...
was on the Eastern boundary. San Tomas Aquino Creek flowed around the Western and Northwestern edges. Ross Creek was in the Southeast. The boundaries, denoted with modern landmarks, were:
- The Northwestern and Western boundary followed San Tomas Aquino Creek from John D. Morgan Park, North of Westmont High SchoolWestmont High School (Campbell, California)Westmont High School is located in Campbell, California, United States and is part of the Campbell Union High School District. First opened in the fall of 1964, Westmont drew students initially from both Blackford and Campbell High Schools. The school retains many academic achievements including...
, and along Quito Road & Austin Way - The Western corner was near where San Tomas Aquino Creek meets Canon Drive
- The Southwestern boundary roughly parallels State Route 9California State Route 9State Route 9 is mainly a rural and mountainous route in the U.S. state of California that travels 35 miles from SR 1 near Santa Cruz to SR 17 in Los Gatos, passing through the San Lorenzo Valley and the Saratoga Gap...
about 0.75 miles to its Southwest - The Southwest corner was near the Santa Cruz Avenue exit of State Route 17
- The Southeast corner was near where Kennedy Road crosses Ross Creek
- The Eastern corner was near the corner of Camino del Cerro and Blossom Hill Road
- The Northern boundary was at Rincon Avenue across the North end of John D. Morgan Park in central Campbell