Rancho Ex-Mission San Diego
Encyclopedia
Rancho Ex-Mission San Diego was a 58875 acres (238.3 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day San Diego County, California given in 1846 by Governor Pio Pico
to Santiago Argüello
. The rancho derives its name from the secularized Mission San Diego
, and was called ex-Mission because of a division made of the lands held in the name of the Mission — the church retaining the grounds immediately around, and all of the lands outside of this are called ex-Mission lands. The grant extended eastward from the San Diego Pueblo to Rancho El Cajon
, and encompassed present day east San Diego, Normal Heights
, La Mesa
, Lemon Grove
, and Encanto
.
, was the son of José Darío Argüello
. He held a number of political and military offices at San Diego and was commandante of the Presidio of San Diego
from 1830 to 1835. In 1829 he was granted the Tia Juana Rancho, in Mexico. He aided the American cause during the Mexican-American War, was captain of a troop of the California battalion, and died at the Tia Juana Rancho in 1862.
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 Ex-Mission San Diego was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to Santiago Argüello in 1876.
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 San Diego County, California given in 1846 by Governor Pio Pico
Pío Pico
Pío de Jesús Pico was the last Governor of Alta California under Mexican rule.-Origins:...
to Santiago Argüello
Santiago Argüello
-Life:Santiago Argüello was born in Monterey, California, the son of José Darío Argüello, a soldier, and María Ignacia Moraga, a niece of the acting governor of Alta California. Argüello was tall and stout. His fair complexion and black hair, along with his reserved manner gave him a regal...
. The rancho derives its name from the secularized Mission San Diego
Mission San Diego de Alcalá
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, in San Diego, California, was the first Franciscan mission in the Las Californias Province of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. It was founded in 1769 by Spanish friar Junípero Serra in an area long inhabited by the Kumeyaay Indians...
, and was called ex-Mission because of a division made of the lands held in the name of the Mission — the church retaining the grounds immediately around, and all of the lands outside of this are called ex-Mission lands. The grant extended eastward from the San Diego Pueblo to Rancho El Cajon
Rancho El Cajon
Rancho El Cajon was a Mexican land grant in present day San Diego County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pio Pico to María Antonia Estudillo de Pedrorena. The name means "the box" in Spanish, and refers to the valley between hills. The grant encompassed present day El Cajon, Bostonia,...
, and encompassed present day east San Diego, Normal Heights
Normal Heights, San Diego, California
Normal Heights is a neighborhood of the mid-city region of San Diego, California. It is known for its affordable pubs, restaurants, coffee houses, antique shops, book shops, and burgeoning arts community.-History:...
, La Mesa
La Mesa, California
La Mesa is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 57,065 at the 2010 census, up from 54,749 at the 2000 census. It was founded in 1869 and officially incorporated as a city on February 16, 1912. Its official flower is the bougainvillea....
, Lemon Grove
Lemon Grove, California
Lemon Grove is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 25,320 at the 2010 census, up from 24,918 as of the 2000 census.-History:...
, and Encanto
Encanto, San Diego, California
Encanto is a hilly neighborhood located in the southeastern part of San Diego, California. The neighborhood of Encanto is split into two sections, North Encanto , and South Encanto ....
.
History
Pío Pico decreed that the mission rancho be sold to Santiago Argüello "..in consideration of past services to the territorial government." According to the terms of the 1846 deed, Argüello was required to pay the debts of the Mission, support the priests, and maintain religious services. Santiago Argüello (1791 - 1862), born at MontereyMonterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
, was the son of José Darío Argüello
José Darío Argüello
José Darío Argüello was a Spanish soldier and California pioneer, and twice governor of California.-Biography:José Darío Argüello was born in Santiago de Querétaro, New Spain ....
. He held a number of political and military offices at San Diego and was commandante of the Presidio of San Diego
Presidio of San Diego
El Presidio Reál de San Diego is an historical fort established on May 14, 1769, by Commandant Pedro Fages for Spain. It was the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific Coast of the United States. As the first of the presidios and Spanish missions in California, it was the base of...
from 1830 to 1835. In 1829 he was granted the Tia Juana Rancho, in Mexico. He aided the American cause during the Mexican-American War, was captain of a troop of the California battalion, and died at the Tia Juana Rancho in 1862.
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 Ex-Mission San Diego 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 Santiago Argüello in 1876.