Agua Mansa, California
Encyclopedia
Agua Mansa is a former settlement in an unincorpated area of San Bernardino County, California
, United States. Now a ghost town
, only the cemetery remains, it once was the largest settlement in San Bernardino County. The town was established in 1845 on the Santa Ana River
, across from the town of La Placita
. Agua Mansa and La Placita were the first non-native settlements in the San Bernardino Valley
. Together known as "San Salvador", they were also the largest settlements between New Mexico
and Los Angeles
in the 1840s.
donated parts of his Rancho Jurupa
to a group of colonists from Abiquiú, New Mexico
on the condition that they would assist in protecting his stock from Indian raids. Ten of these families moved to 2000 acres (809.4 ha) on the "Bandini Donation" on the east side of the Santa Ana River, forming the village of La Placita while a second group colonized the west side of the river, forming the town of Agua Mansa. The group that formed Agua Mansa was led by Don Jose Tomas Salajar, and included Cristobal Slover
and Louis Rubidoux
.
After the adobe church built in La Placita in 1852 collapsed in quicksand
, a new church was built in Agua Mansa. Completed in 1853 and dedicated to San Salvador, the church survived through the Great Flood of 1862
. The parish, which included Agua Mansa and La Pacita, became known as San Salvador de Jurupa, and was the first non-mission parish in Southern California. The chapel's bell now hangs at the Glenwood Mission Inn
.
The town prospered for almost 20 years until the 1862 flooding swept away many of the adobe
buildings, leaving the area strewn with sand and gravel. Though the town was rebuilt on higher ground, its prosperity did not return. Built in 1870, the Jensen Alvarado Ranch
is a California Historical Landmark
and is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Its vineyard produced and sold thousands of gallons of wine each year.
. The valley was 6 mi (9.7 km) in length; its width varied between 0.5 mi (0.80467 km) and 0.75 mi (1.2 km), the variance depending on the river that flowed through the valley. The area was used as farmland, divided into at least one hundred fields, owned by separate farmers. The valley's lower end included Rubidoux's cottonwood forest, while the upper end was a sandy plain that extended to the borders of San Bernardino.
, it is a designated California Historical Landmark
(No. 121). The first burial occurred in 1852, and the last occurred 111 years later in 1963. Notable pioneers buried at the cemetery include Louis Rubidoux
, Cornelius Jensen
and Jensen's wife Mercedes Alvarado. In 1955, a descendant of the original Agua Mansa families established "Friends for the Preservation of the Agua Mansa Pioneer Cemetery" and the volunteers of this group refurbished the cemetery, fenced it off and added a gate. In 1967, the cemetery became a branch of the San Bernardino County Museum after its acquisition by San Bernardino County
. It has a museum and chapel, and tours are available.
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
, United States. Now a ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
, only the cemetery remains, it once was the largest settlement in San Bernardino County. The town was established in 1845 on the Santa Ana River
Santa Ana River
The Santa Ana River is the largest river of Southern California in the United States. Its drainage basin spans four counties. It rises in the San Bernardino Mountains and flows past the cities of San Bernardino and Riverside, before cutting through the northern tip of the Santa Ana Mountains and...
, across from the town of La Placita
La Placita, California
La Placita is a former settlement and the earliest community established in Riverside County, California, USA. The town was established around 1843 on the Santa Ana River, across from the town of Agua Mansa...
. Agua Mansa and La Placita were the first non-native settlements in the San Bernardino Valley
San Bernardino Valley
The San Bernardino Valley is a valley in Southern California. It lies at the south base of the Transverse Ranges. It is bordered on the north by the eastern San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino Mountains, on the east by the San Jacinto Mountains, and on the south and west by the Santa Ana...
. Together known as "San Salvador", they were also the largest settlements between New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in the 1840s.
History
In 1845, Don Juan BandiniJuan Bandini
Juan Bandini was an early settler of what would become San Diego, California.-Early history:Juan Bandini was born 1800 in Lima, Peru to José Bandini, a Spanish sea captain. His father came to California in 1819 and 1821 and participated in the Mexican War of Independence...
donated parts of his Rancho Jurupa
Rancho Jurupa
Rancho Jurupa was a Mexican land grant in California, United States, that is divided by the present-day counties of Riverside and San Bernardino. The land was granted to Juan Bandini by Governor Juan B. Alvarado in 1838...
to a group of colonists from Abiquiú, New Mexico
Abiquiú, New Mexico
Abiquiú, or Abiquiu is a small unincorporated town located in Rio Arriba County, in northern New Mexico in the southwestern United States, about 53 miles north of Santa Fe. In the 1730s, it was the third largest settlement in the New Mexico Territory...
on the condition that they would assist in protecting his stock from Indian raids. Ten of these families moved to 2000 acres (809.4 ha) on the "Bandini Donation" on the east side of the Santa Ana River, forming the village of La Placita while a second group colonized the west side of the river, forming the town of Agua Mansa. The group that formed Agua Mansa was led by Don Jose Tomas Salajar, and included Cristobal Slover
Slover Mountain
Slover Mountain, or Mount Slover, is a mountain or hill in Colton, California, United States. It was named after a hunter, Isaac Slover, who died in 1854 in the Cajon Pass. The Colton Liberty Flag stands atop the mountain. Before the hill was mined for marble and limestone, it stood as the tallest...
and Louis Rubidoux
Louis Rubidoux
Louis Rubidoux was an early European settler in the area of modern-day Riverside, California, United States. He arrived in California in 1844. He bought Rancho San Jacinto y San Gorgonio from James Johnson in 1845, and a portion of the Rancho Jurupa from Benjamin Wilson in 1849. Rubidoux...
.
After the adobe church built in La Placita in 1852 collapsed in quicksand
Quicksand
Quicksand is a colloid hydrogel consisting of fine granular matter , clay, and water.Water circulation underground can focus in an area with the optimal mixture of fine sands and other materials such as clay. The water moves up and then down slowly in a convection-like manner throughout a column...
, a new church was built in Agua Mansa. Completed in 1853 and dedicated to San Salvador, the church survived through the Great Flood of 1862
Great Flood of 1862
The Great Flood of 1862 or Noachian Deluge was the largest flood in the recorded history of Oregon, Nevada and California, occurring from December 1861 to January 1862. It was preceded by weeks of continuous rains that began in Oregon in November 1861 and continued into January 1862...
. The parish, which included Agua Mansa and La Pacita, became known as San Salvador de Jurupa, and was the first non-mission parish in Southern California. The chapel's bell now hangs at the Glenwood Mission Inn
Mission Inn
The Mission Inn, now known as The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, is a historic landmark hotel in downtown Riverside, California. Although a composite of many architectural styles, it is generally considered the largest Mission Revival Style building in the United States.-History:The property began as a...
.
The town prospered for almost 20 years until the 1862 flooding swept away many of the adobe
Adobe
Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, and some kind of fibrous or organic material , which the builders shape into bricks using frames and dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are similar to cob and mudbrick buildings. Adobe structures are extremely durable, and account for...
buildings, leaving the area strewn with sand and gravel. Though the town was rebuilt on higher ground, its prosperity did not return. Built in 1870, the Jensen Alvarado Ranch
Jensen Alvarado Ranch
The Jensen Alvarado Ranch is a historic park and museum in Riverside County, California, USA, and is operated by the Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District . It can be accessed from 4350 Riverview Drive, Rubidoux or 4307 Briggs Street, Riverside...
is a 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:...
and is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Its vineyard produced and sold thousands of gallons of wine each year.
Geography
The Agua Mansa valley is located on the south side of Slover MountainSlover Mountain
Slover Mountain, or Mount Slover, is a mountain or hill in Colton, California, United States. It was named after a hunter, Isaac Slover, who died in 1854 in the Cajon Pass. The Colton Liberty Flag stands atop the mountain. Before the hill was mined for marble and limestone, it stood as the tallest...
. The valley was 6 mi (9.7 km) in length; its width varied between 0.5 mi (0.80467 km) and 0.75 mi (1.2 km), the variance depending on the river that flowed through the valley. The area was used as farmland, divided into at least one hundred fields, owned by separate farmers. The valley's lower end included Rubidoux's cottonwood forest, while the upper end was a sandy plain that extended to the borders of San Bernardino.
Landmark
The Agua Mansa Pioneer Cemetery is all that remains of the once flourishing town. Located off 2001 E. Agua Mansa Road, ColtonColton, California
Colton is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The city is located in the Inland Empire region of the state and is approximately 57 miles east of Los Angeles. The population of Colton is 52,154 according to the 2010 census, up from 47,662 at the 2000 census.Colton is the...
, it is a designated 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:...
(No. 121). The first burial occurred in 1852, and the last occurred 111 years later in 1963. Notable pioneers buried at the cemetery include Louis Rubidoux
Louis Rubidoux
Louis Rubidoux was an early European settler in the area of modern-day Riverside, California, United States. He arrived in California in 1844. He bought Rancho San Jacinto y San Gorgonio from James Johnson in 1845, and a portion of the Rancho Jurupa from Benjamin Wilson in 1849. Rubidoux...
, Cornelius Jensen
Cornelius Jensen
Cornelius Boy Jensen was a Danish sea captain and California politician. Of the nine one-year terms that he served as county supervisor between 1856 and 1877, Jensen was the Chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors four times. His Agua Mansa home, the Jensen Alvarado Ranch, is...
and Jensen's wife Mercedes Alvarado. In 1955, a descendant of the original Agua Mansa families established "Friends for the Preservation of the Agua Mansa Pioneer Cemetery" and the volunteers of this group refurbished the cemetery, fenced it off and added a gate. In 1967, the cemetery became a branch of the San Bernardino County Museum after its acquisition by San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
. It has a museum and chapel, and tours are available.