Rancho La Sierra (Sepulveda)
Encyclopedia
Rancho La Sierra was a 17774 acres (71.9 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Riverside County, California
, United States. In 1846 Governor Pio Pico
issued the grant to Vicenta Sepulveda. The rancho includes the present day city of Norco
, and the western end of Riverside
.
land grant. Vicenta married Tomas Antonio Yorba
(1788–1845) in 1834. Tomas was a son of José Antonio Yorba
, the grantee of Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana
in present-day Orange County
. Tomas, along with some of his brothers, pastured animals on lands east of their father's Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana, and in 1834 his brother Bernardo Yorba
requested, and was granted, Rancho Cañón de Santa Ana
. Tomas and Bernardo continued to pasture lands even further east, in an area they had named La Sierra.
In 1845, after Tomas had died, Bernardo applied for four square leagues of the La Sierra lands. Nine days later Vicenta Sepulveda, then a widow and going by her maiden name, also applied for some of the same La Sierra lands. On June 15, 1846 Governor Pio Pico granted the east half of the lands, Rancho La Sierra (Sepulveda), to Vicente Sepulveda, and the west half, Rancho La Sierra (Yorba)
to Bernado Yorba. Vicenta married Jose Ramon Carrillo (1821–1864) in 1847.
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 La Sierra was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to Vicenta Sepulveda in 1877.
In 1858, Vicenta Sepulveda de Carrillo bought Rancho Valle de San Jose
.
Abel Stearns purchased Rancho La Sierra, but was forced to sell after the drought of 1863. The rancho passed through several owners including the San Jacinto Land Company. It was purchased by James W. Long in 1908. Long formed the Orange Heights Water Company and began developing the area in 1910.
Through several acquisitions Willitts J. Hole (1858–1936), a Los Angeles
businessman, purchased much of the original Rancho, eventually owning more than 17000 acres (69 km²). Hole continued to use the land as a ranch, which became known as the Hole Ranch, and he built a large mansion on the property. He later began subdividing the property for various developments. In 1922, he sold 400 acres (2 km²) of the land to the Seventh-day Adventist Church
. In 1942, the U.S. Army purchased 1239 acres (5 km²) of the ranch from the Hole estate, and set up Camp Anza
, a World War II
disembarkation facility.
The North Corona Land Company bought some of the property 1921 after it was established as a subdivision of the Corona Land Company for citrus growing. The name Norco is an abbreviation of the North Corona portion of the company name. Norco was incorporated as a city in December of 1964. Also in 1964 the city of Riverside annexed the rest of the original Rancho La Sierra lands.
.
Western Riverside continues to be referred to as La Sierra, with four separate city neighborhoods beginning with the name. After the Seventh-day Adventist Church purchased a large section of the land they opened the La Sierra Academy, today known as La Sierra University
.
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 Riverside County, California
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
, United States. In 1846 Governor Pio Pico
Pío Pico
Pío de Jesús Pico was the last Governor of Alta California under Mexican rule.-Origins:...
issued the grant to Vicenta Sepulveda. The rancho includes the present day city of Norco
Norco, California
Norco is a city in Riverside County, California, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,063, up from 24,157 at the 2000 census...
, and the western end of Riverside
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
.
History
Maria Vicenta Sepulveda (1816–1907) was a daughter of Francisco Sepulveda, recipient of the Rancho San Vicente y Santa MonicaRancho San Vicente y Santa Monica
Rancho San Vicente y Santa Monica was a Mexican land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given by governor Juan Alvarado in 1839 to Francisco Sepulveda soldier and citizen of Los Angeles...
land grant. Vicenta married Tomas Antonio Yorba
José Antonio Yorba
José Antonio Yorba , also known as Don José Antonio Yorba I, was a Spanish soldier and early settler of Spanish California.-Spanish Soldier:...
(1788–1845) in 1834. Tomas was a son of José Antonio Yorba
José Antonio Yorba
José Antonio Yorba , also known as Don José Antonio Yorba I, was a Spanish soldier and early settler of Spanish California.-Spanish Soldier:...
, the grantee of Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana
Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana
Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana was a Spanish land concession in present day Orange County, California given by Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga in 1810 to Jose Antonio Yorba and his nephew Pablo Peralta...
in present-day Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. Tomas, along with some of his brothers, pastured animals on lands east of their father's Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana, and in 1834 his brother Bernardo Yorba
Bernardo Yorba
Bernardo Yorba , was a native of Nueva California and the son of Spanish soldier, José Antonio Yorba. Bernardo became one of the most successful ranchers in Alta California with thousands of cattle and horses grazing on land grants totaling more than 35,000 acres...
requested, and was granted, Rancho Cañón de Santa Ana
Rancho Cañón de Santa Ana
Rancho 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:...
. Tomas and Bernardo continued to pasture lands even further east, in an area they had named La Sierra.
In 1845, after Tomas had died, Bernardo applied for four square leagues of the La Sierra lands. Nine days later Vicenta Sepulveda, then a widow and going by her maiden name, also applied for some of the same La Sierra lands. On June 15, 1846 Governor Pio Pico granted the east half of the lands, Rancho La Sierra (Sepulveda), to Vicente Sepulveda, and the west half, Rancho La Sierra (Yorba)
Rancho La Sierra (Yorba)
Rancho La Sierra was a Mexican land grant in present day Riverside County, California, United States. In 1846 governor Pio Pico issued the grant to Bernardo Yorba...
to Bernado Yorba. Vicenta married Jose Ramon Carrillo (1821–1864) in 1847.
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 La Sierra 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 Vicenta Sepulveda in 1877.
In 1858, Vicenta Sepulveda de Carrillo bought Rancho Valle de San Jose
Rancho Valle de San Jose (Portilla)
Rancho Valle de San Jose was a Mexican land grant in present day San Diego County, California given in 1836 by Governor Nicolás Gutiérrez to Silvestre de la Portilla. Located in north east of San Diego County, it was bounded on the north by Buena Vista Creek and Rancho San Jose del Valle...
.
Abel Stearns purchased Rancho La Sierra, but was forced to sell after the drought of 1863. The rancho passed through several owners including the San Jacinto Land Company. It was purchased by James W. Long in 1908. Long formed the Orange Heights Water Company and began developing the area in 1910.
Through several acquisitions Willitts J. Hole (1858–1936), a Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
businessman, purchased much of the original Rancho, eventually owning more than 17000 acres (69 km²). Hole continued to use the land as a ranch, which became known as the Hole Ranch, and he built a large mansion on the property. He later began subdividing the property for various developments. In 1922, he sold 400 acres (2 km²) of the land to the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
. In 1942, the U.S. Army purchased 1239 acres (5 km²) of the ranch from the Hole estate, and set up Camp Anza
Camp Anza
Camp Anza was a United States Army installation near Riverside, California during World War II. Construction began on July 3, 1942, and was completed on February 15, 1943....
, a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
disembarkation facility.
The North Corona Land Company bought some of the property 1921 after it was established as a subdivision of the Corona Land Company for citrus growing. The name Norco is an abbreviation of the North Corona portion of the company name. Norco was incorporated as a city in December of 1964. Also in 1964 the city of Riverside annexed the rest of the original Rancho La Sierra lands.
Etymology
Translated from Spanish into English "La Sierra de Santa Ana" means "The mountains of Santa Ana". According to Bernardo's petition for the La Sierra lands, the Yorba brothers had used this name as early as 1825. The name distinguished the higher elevation La Sierra de Santa Ana lands from Bernardo's Cañón de Santa Ana lands, both positioned beside the Santa Ana RiverSanta 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...
.
Western Riverside continues to be referred to as La Sierra, with four separate city neighborhoods beginning with the name. After the Seventh-day Adventist Church purchased a large section of the land they opened the La Sierra Academy, today known as La Sierra University
La Sierra University
La Sierra University is a Seventh-day Adventist co-educational university accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Adventist Accrediting Association...
.
Historic sites of the Rancho
- Hole Mansion. Arthur Benton designed the rustic bungalow, built on the site between 1912 and 1915 for Willits J. Hole.