Rancho Muscupiabe was a 30145 acres (122 km²) 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...

 in present day San Bernardino County, California

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...

 given to Michael White

Michael White

- Academics :*Michael JD White , British zoologist*Michael White , inventor of narrative therapy*L. Michael White, American theologian*Michael White , English Communications Theorist- Journalism and literature :...

 April 29, 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena

Manuel Micheltorena

Manuel Micheltorena was a Brigadier General of the Mexican Army, Adjutant-General of the same, Governor, Commandant-General and Inspector of the Department of the California...

. The name comes from a Serrano

Serrano language

The Serrano language is a language in the Takic branch of the Uto-Aztecan family spoken by the Serrano people of Southern California. The language is closely related to Tongva and Kitanemuk....

 word Muscupiabit, meaning "Place of little pines." The rancho was adjacent to the Cajon Pass

Cajon Pass

Cajon Pass is a moderate-elevation mountain pass between the San Bernardino Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California in the United States. It was created by the movements of the San Andreas Fault...

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History

In 1843, Michael White, also known as Miguel Blanco, was granted rights to Rancho Muscupiabe. The land was home to a village of Serrano Indians. White was married to the daughter of Eulalia Perez, the housekeeper of San Gabriel Mission, and was persuaded to set up a rancho on the path used by raiding bands of nomadic indigenous people. He built a fortified home that overlooked the pass and the Mojave Trail. White left after nine months of having his cattle stolen.

On June 22, 1872, White's holdings were affirmed by 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...

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