San Rafael Hills
Encyclopedia
The San Rafael Hills are a mountain range in Los Angeles County
, California
. They are one of the lower Transverse Ranges
, and are parallel to and below the San Gabriel Mountains
to the south, adjacent to the San Gabriel Valley
overlooking the Los Angeles Basin
.
, South Pasadena
, San Marino
, El Sereno, and Monterey Hills. They define the valley area of Pasadena, and a large aquifer
to the north, from the San Gabriel Valley.
people for over 8,000 years before the Spanish invasion
and colonization
of the late 18th century. The El Molino Viejo
with a zanja (dirt aqueduct
) was built in the hills in 1816 by the nearby Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
. They are named after the Rancho San Rafael
, an 1874 Spanish land grant beyond the hills to the west. An 1838 Mexican land grant
established the Rancho Huerta de Cuati
in the hills in 1838. The rancho
was later acquired by Henry E. Huntington
for his residence, gardens, and library, and real estate development. The Huntington Hotel was developed in 1914 on the southern side.
and Botanic Gardens
, the Edwin Hubble House
, and El Molino Viejo
(all National Register of Historic Places
and California Historical Landmark
s) are located in the San Rafael Hills, as is San Marino's Lacy Park
.
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. They are one of the lower Transverse Ranges
Transverse Ranges
The Transverse Ranges are a group of mountain ranges of southern California, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region that runs along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico in North America. The Transverse Ranges begin at the southern end of the California Coast Ranges and lie between...
, and are parallel to and below the San Gabriel Mountains
San Gabriel Mountains
The San Gabriel Mountains Range is located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, United States. The mountain range lies between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert, with Interstate 5 to the west and Interstate 15 to the east...
to the south, adjacent to the San Gabriel Valley
San Gabriel Valley
The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of Southern California, United States. It lies to the east of Los Angeles, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and west of the Inland Empire. It derives its name from the San Gabriel River that flows...
overlooking the Los Angeles Basin
Los Angeles Basin
The Los Angeles Basin is the coastal sediment-filled plain located between the Peninsular and Transverse ranges in southern California in the United States containing the central part of the city of Los Angeles as well as its southern and southeastern suburbs...
.
Geography
The Hills contain all or parts of the towns of PasadenaPasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, South Pasadena
South Pasadena, California
South Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 25,619, up from 24,292 at the 2000 census. It is located in in the West San Gabriel Valley...
, San Marino
San Marino, California
San Marino is a small, affluent city in Los Angeles County, California. Incorporated in 1913, the City founders designed the community to be uniquely residential, with expansive properties surrounded by beautiful gardens, wide streets, and well maintained parkways...
, El Sereno, and Monterey Hills. They define the valley area of Pasadena, and a large aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
to the north, from the San Gabriel Valley.
History
They were the homeland, with settlements, of the Tongva Native AmericanMission Indians
Mission Indians is a term for many Native California tribes, primarily living in coastal plains, adjacent inland valleys and mountains, and on the Channel Islands in central and southern California, United States. The tribes had established comparatively peaceful cultures varying from 250 to 8,000...
people for over 8,000 years before the Spanish invasion
California mission clash of cultures
The California mission clash of cultures occurred at the Spanish Missions in California during the Spanish Las Californias-New Spain and Mexican Alta California eras of control, with lasting consequences after American statehood...
and colonization
Spanish colonization of the Americas
Colonial expansion under the Spanish Empire was initiated by the Spanish conquistadores and developed by the Monarchy of Spain through its administrators and missionaries. The motivations for colonial expansion were trade and the spread of the Christian faith through indigenous conversions...
of the late 18th century. The El Molino Viejo
El Molino Viejo
El Molino Viejo, also known as The Old Mill, is a former grist mill in the San Rafael Hills of present day San Marino, California, USA, and was built in 1816 by Father José Maria de Zalvidea from the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel...
with a zanja (dirt aqueduct
Aqueduct
An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
) was built in the hills in 1816 by the nearby Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
The Mission San Gabriel Arcángel is a fully functioning Roman Catholic mission and a historic landmark in San Gabriel, California. The settlement was founded by Spaniards of the Franciscan order on "The Feast of the Birth of Mary," September 8, 1771, as the fourth of what would become 21 Spanish...
. They are named after the Rancho San Rafael
Rancho San Rafael
Rancho San Rafael was a Spanish land grant bordering the Los Angeles River and the Arroyo Seco in present day Los Angeles County, California, given in 1784 to Jose Maria Verdugo. The rancho includes the present day cities of Glendale, Eagle Rock, La Cañada, Montrose, and Verdugo City...
, an 1874 Spanish land grant beyond the hills to the west. An 1838 Mexican land grant
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...
established the Rancho Huerta de Cuati
Rancho Huerta de Cuati
Rancho Huerta de Cuati was a Mexican land grant in the San Rafael Hills area of present day Los Angeles County, California given in 1838 by governor Juan Alvarado to Victoria Reid. The name means "Garden of the Cuati" in Spanish...
in the hills in 1838. The rancho
Rancho
Rancho may refer to:*Alta California land grants in the 19th century; see Ranchos of California*Rancho High School, a North Las Vegas high school*Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center**Rancho Los Amigos Scale...
was later acquired by Henry E. Huntington
Henry E. Huntington
Henry Edwards Huntington was a railroad magnate and collector of art and rare books. Born in Oneonta, New York, Huntington settled in Los Angeles, where he owned the Pacific Electric Railway as well as substantial real estate interests...
for his residence, gardens, and library, and real estate development. The Huntington Hotel was developed in 1914 on the southern side.
Landmarks
The The Huntington LibraryThe Huntington Library
The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens is an educational and research institution established by Henry E. Huntington in San Marino, in the San Rafael Hills near Pasadena, California in the United States...
and Botanic Gardens
Huntington Desert Garden
The Huntington Desert Garden is part of The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California. The Desert Garden is one of the world's largest and oldest collections of cacti, succulents and other desert plants, collected from throughout the world. It contains...
, the Edwin Hubble House
Edwin Hubble House
Edwin Hubble House is a National Historic Landmark house located at 1340 Woodstock Road, in San Marino, California. It was the home of astronomer Edwin Hubble. He lived there from 1925 until he died in 1953, and the house remained in the Hubble family until approximately 1973.It was declared a...
, and El Molino Viejo
El Molino Viejo
El Molino Viejo, also known as The Old Mill, is a former grist mill in the San Rafael Hills of present day San Marino, California, USA, and was built in 1816 by Father José Maria de Zalvidea from the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel...
(all National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below:...
s) are located in the San Rafael Hills, as is San Marino's Lacy Park
Lacy Park
Lacy Park is a public park located in the city of San Marino, California. The park is located at 1485 Virginia Road.Consisting of over thirty acres of space in the center San Marino, Lacy Park was opened in 1925. The park is known for its extensive arboretum of trees, its immaculate rose garden,...
.