José Figueroa
Encyclopedia
General José Figueroa was a General and the Mexican territorial Governor of Alta California
from 1833 to 1835.
Figueroa oversaw the initial secularization
of the missions
of upper California
, which included the expulsion of the Spanish
Franciscan
mission officials.
This also involved the issuing of many Mexican land grant
s for former mission lands and original Mission Indians
homelands.
Alta California
Alta California was a province and territory in the Viceroyalty of New Spain and later a territory and department in independent Mexico. The territory was created in 1769 out of the northern part of the former province of Las Californias, and consisted of the modern American states of California,...
from 1833 to 1835.
Figueroa oversaw the initial secularization
Secularization
Secularization is the transformation of a society from close identification with religious values and institutions toward non-religious values and secular institutions...
of the missions
Spanish missions in California
The Spanish missions in California comprise a series of religious and military outposts established by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order between 1769 and 1823 to spread the Christian faith among the local Native Americans. The missions represented the first major effort by Europeans to...
of upper 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...
, which included the expulsion of the Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
mission officials.
This also involved the issuing of many 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...
s for former mission lands and original Mission Indians
Mission 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...
homelands.
Legacy
Landmarks named after General José Figueroa include:- Figueroa MountainFigueroa MountainFigueroa Mountain is a summit in Santa Barbara County in the U.S. state of California. It is in the San Rafael Mountains, part of the Transverse Ranges group of ranges...
, in the San Rafael MountainsSan Rafael MountainsThe San Rafael Mountains are a mountain range in central Santa Barbara County, California, U.S.. They are part of the Transverse Ranges system of Southern California which in turn are part of the Pacific Coast Ranges system of western North America....
, Los Padres National ForestLos Padres National ForestLos Padres National Forest is a forest located in southern and central California, which includes most of the mountainous land along the California coast from Ventura to Monterey, extending inland...
, Santa Barbara County, CaliforniaSanta Barbara County, CaliforniaSanta Barbara County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific coast. As of 2010 the county had a population of 423,895. The county seat is Santa Barbara and the largest city is Santa Maria.-History:...
. - Figueroa StreetFigueroa StreetFigueroa Street is a street in Los Angeles County, California named for General José Figueroa , governor of Alta California from 1833 to 1835, who oversaw the secularization of the missions of California...
and Figueroa Avenue, in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos 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...
, California.- Figueroa Street TunnelsFigueroa Street TunnelsThe Figueroa Street Tunnels are a set of four four-lane tunnels that carry northbound traffic on State Route 110 through Elysian Park in Los Angeles, California, United States. From south to north, the four tunnels measure 755, 461, 130 and 405 feet in length, 46.5 feet in width, and...
- Figueroa at WilshireFigueroa at WilshireFigueroa at Wilshire, formerly, Sanwa Bank Plaza, is a 53-storey, skyscraper in Los Angeles, California. It is the eighth tallest building in Los Angeles. It was designed by Albert C. Martin & Associates, and developed by Hines Interests Limited Partnership. It won the Rose Award for "Outstanding...
- Figueroa Street Tunnels
Figueroa rancho land grants
- Mexican land grants in Alta California issued by Governor José Figueroa:
- Rancho AcalanesRancho AcalanesRancho Acalanes was a Mexican land grant in present day Contra Costa County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Candelario Valencia. The name Acalanes seems to have come from the name of a Costanoan native village in the area, Ahala-n. The rancho included present day...
- Rancho AptosRancho AptosRancho Aptos was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Cruz County, California given in 1833 by Governor José Figueroa to Rafael Castro. The grant on the Monterey Bay was immediately downcoast of his sister, Martina Castro's Rancho Soquel, and upcoast of his father, José Joaquín Castro's ...
- Rancho SespeRancho SespeRancho Sespe was a Mexican land grant in present day Ventura County, California given in 1833 by Governor José Figueroa to Carlos Antonio Carrillo...
- Rancho SausalRancho SausalRancho Sausal was a Mexican land grant in the Salinas Valley, in present day Monterey County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to José Tibúrcio Castro. An additional grant was made by Governor Pío Pico in 1845. The name is Spanish for "willow grove"...
- Rancho ZayanteRancho ZayanteRancho Zayante was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Cruz County, California. The grant, measuring one league by one-half league , straddled Zayante Creek, near its confluence with the San Lorenzo River...
- Rancho SaucitoRancho SaucitoRancho Saucito was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1833 by Governor José Figueroa to Graciano Manjares...
- Rancho AguajitoRancho AguajitoRancho Aguajito was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1835 by Governor José Figueroa to Gregorio Tapia. The grant was south of Monterey and encompassed the present day Naval Postgraduate School and the Del Monte Golf Course.-History:Gregorio Tapia married...
- Rancho SolisRancho SolisRancho Solis was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Clara County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Mariano Castro. Solis means sun in Spanish...
- Rancho El AlisalRancho El AlisalRancho El Alisal was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1833 by Governor José Figueroa to brothers Feliciano and Mariano Soberanes and to William Edward Petty Hartnell. Alisal means Alder tree in spanish...
- Rancho Las PosasRancho Las PosasRancho Las Posas was a Mexican land grant in present day Ventura County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to José Antonio Carrillo. The grant extends along the Simi Valley from near present day Moorpark to Camarillo...
- Rancho El SurRancho El SurRancho El Sur was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Juan Alvarado. The grant extended between the Little Sur River and what is now called, Cooper Point.-History:...
- Rancho Laguna SecaRancho Laguna SecaRancho Laguna Seca was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Catalina M. Munras. "Laguna Seca" means "Dry Lake" in Spanish...
- Rancho San PascualRancho San PascualRancho San Pascual also known as Rancho el Rincon de San Pascual was a Mexican land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given to Juan Marine in 1834 by José Figueroa...
- Rancho PetalumaRancho PetalumaRancho Petaluma was a Mexican land grant in present day Sonoma County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo...
- Rancho SoquelRancho SoquelRancho Soquel was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Cruz County, California given in 1833 by Governor José Figueroa to Martina Castro. In 1844, Martina Castro was granted by Governor José Figueroa a further grant known as the Soquel Augmentation. The grant along Monterey Bay...
- Rancho San AndrésRancho San AndrésRancho San Andrés was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Cruz County, California given in 1833 by Governor José Figueroa to José Joaquín Castro. The grant on Monterey Bay extended from La Selva Beach on the north to Watsonville Slough on the south...
- Rancho San YsidroRancho San YsidroRancho San Ysidro was a Spanish land concession in present day Santa Clara County, California given in 1809 by Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga to Ygnacio Ortega. After his death the lands were divided among his three children by Mexican Governor José Figueroa in 1833...
- Rancho San AgustinRancho San AgustinRancho San Agustin was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Cruz County, California given in 1833 by Governor José Figueroa to José Antonio Bolcoff...
- Rancho Monte del DiabloRancho Monte del DiabloRancho Monte del Diablo was a Mexican land grant in present day Contra Costa County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Salvio Pacheco. The name "Monte del Diablo" means "thicket of the devil" in Spanish. The name was later incorrectly translated as Mount Diablo...
- Rancho Las AnimasRancho Las AnimasRancho Las Animas was a Spanish land concession in present day Santa Clara County given in 1802 by Viceroy Félix Berenguer de Marquina to José Mariano Castro. The rancho was regranted in 1835 to Castro's widow Josefa Romero de Castro by Mexican Governor José Figueroa...
- Rancho Paso de BartoloRancho Paso de BartoloRancho Paso de Bartolo also called Rancho Paso de Bartolo Viejo was a Mexican land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given in 1835 by Governor Jose Figueroa to Juan Crispin Perez. The name refers to a San Gabriel River ford called Paso de Bartolo Viejo...
- Rancho Laguna Seca (Alvires)Rancho Laguna Seca (Alvires)Rancho Laguna Seca was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Clara County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Juan Alvires. "Laguna Seca" means "Dry Lake" in Spanish...
- Rancho Ojo del Agua de la CocheRancho Ojo del Agua de la CocheRancho Ojo de Agua de la Coche was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Clara County, California given in 1835 by Governor José Figueroa to Juan María Hernandez. The name means "pig's spring"...
- Rancho San Ramon (Pacheco-Castro)Rancho San Ramon (Pacheco-Castro)Rancho San Ramon was a Mexican land grant in present day Contra Costa County, California given in 1833 by Governor Jose Figueroa to Mariano Castro and Bartolome Pacheco. Governor Figueroa granted Castro and Pacheco two square leagues of San Ramon Valley from the crest of the western ridge to the...
- Rancho Punta de PinosRancho Punta de PinosRancho Punta de Pinos was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1833 by Governor José Figueroa to José María Armenta, and regranted to José Abrego in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena. The name means "Point of the Pines"...
- Rancho Pescadero (Gonzalez)Rancho Pescadero (Gonzalez)Rancho Pescadero was a Mexican land grant in present day San Mateo County, California given in 1833 by Governor José Figueroa to Juan José Gonzales. At the time, the grant was in Santa Cruz County; an 1868 boundary adjustment gave the land to San Mateo County. The name means fishing place...
- Rancho Arroyo de Las Nueces y BolbonesRancho Arroyo de Las Nueces y BolbonesRancho Arroyo de Las Nueces y Bolbones was a Mexican land grant in present day Contra Costa County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Juana Sanchez de Pacheco. The grant was named after the principal waterway, Arroyo de los Nueces and for the local group of indigenous...
- Rancho Cañón de Santa AnaRancho Cañón de Santa AnaRancho Cañón de Santa Ana was a land grant in present day Orange County, California given by Mexican governor José Figueroa in 1834 to Bernardo Yorba. The name means "Canyon of Santa Ana". The grant included present day Yorba Linda.-History:...
- Rancho SalsipuedesRancho SalsipuedesRancho Salsipuedes was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Cruz County, California. Two leagues were granted in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Francisco de Haro. Eight leagues were granted in 1840 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Manuel Casarin. The name means "leave if you can" in Spanish...
- Rancho Santa TeresaRancho Santa TeresaRancho Santa Teresa was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Clara County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to José Joaquín Bernal...
- Rancho Tularcitos (Gomez)Rancho Tularcitos (Gomez)Rancho Tularcitos was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Rafael Gomez. Tularcitos means "place of the little Tule thickets"...
- Rancho Arroyo del RodeoRancho Arroyo del RodeoRancho Arroyo del Rodeo was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Cruz County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Francisco Rodríguez...
- Rancho El MolinoRancho El MolinoRancho El Molino was a Mexican land grant in present day Sonoma County, California given to John B.R. Cooper by Governor José Figueroa in 1833 and officially confirmed by Governor Nicolás Gutiérrez in 1836. "Molino" means "mill" in Spanish, and the name refers to Cooper's sawmill...
- Rancho Nuestra Señora del Refugio
- Rancho Cañada del Corte de MaderaRancho Cañada del Corte de MaderaRancho Cañada del Corte de Madera was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Clara County, California given in 1833 by Governor José Figueroa to José Domingo Peralta and Máximo Martínez. The name translates as "the valley where lumber is cut"...
- Rancho Corte Madera del PresidioRancho Corte Madera del PresidioRancho Corte Madera del Presidio was a Mexican land grant in present day Marin County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to John Reed. Corte Madera del Presidio means the "lumber mill of the Presidio". The grant encompassed what is now southern Corte Madera, Mill Valley,...
- Rancho San Ramon (Amador)Rancho San Ramon (Amador)Rancho San Ramon was a Mexican land grant in present day Contra Costa County, California given in 1834 by Governor Jose Figueroa to Jose Maria Amador....
- Rancho Yerba BuenaRancho Yerba BuenaRancho Yerba Buena or Rancho Socayre was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Clara County, California given in 1833 by Governor José Figueroa to Antonio Chaboya...
- Rancho San Francisco de las LlagasRancho San Francisco de las LlagasRancho San Francisco de las Llagas was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Clara County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Carlos Antonio Castro...
- Rancho El Rincon (Arellanes)Rancho El Rincon (Arellanes)Rancho El Rincon was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Barbara County and Ventura County, California given in 1835 by Governor José Figueroa to Teodoro Arellanes. "Rincon" means "corner" in Spanish...
- Rancho Los Carneros (Littlejohn)Rancho Los Carneros (Littlejohn)Rancho Los Carneros was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Daniel Littlejohn. The name means "sheep"...
- Rancho Ausaymas y San FelipeRancho Ausaymas y San FelipeRancho Ausaymas y San Felipe was a Mexican land grant in present day San Benito County and Santa Clara County, California a consists of two square leagues given in 1833 by Governor José Figueroa and two square leagues given in 1836 by Governor Nicolás Gutiérrez to Francisco Perez Pacheco...
- Rancho Guadalupe y Llanitos de los CorreosRancho Guadalupe y Llanitos de los CorreosRancho Guadalupe y Llanitos de los Correos was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1833 by Governor José Figueroa to Juan Malarin. The grant extended along the south bank of the Salinas River south of Chualar.-History:...
- Rancho Encinal y Buena EsperanzaRancho Encinal y Buena EsperanzaRancho Encinal y Buena Esperanza was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California of two square leagues given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa and a one square league addition given in 1839 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to David Spence...
- Rancho Bolsa de San CayetanoRancho Bolsa de San CayetanoRancho Bolsa de San Cayetano was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1824 by Governor Luís Antonio Argüello to Ygnacio Ferrer Vallejo, and confirmed to his eldest son, José de Jesús Vallejo, by Governor José Figueroa in 1834. The name means "pocket of St....
- Rancho Los AlamitosRancho Los AlamitosRancho Los Alamitos takes its name from a Mexican land grant in southwestern Los Angeles County and northwestern Orange County, California. Los Alamitos means the Little Cottonwoods or Poplars in Spanish, after the native Fremont Cottonwood trees there.Rancho Los Alamitos originally included...