Rancho Rincon de los Bueyes
Encyclopedia
Rancho Rincon de los Bueyes was a 3127 acres (12.7 km²) land grant
in present day Los Angeles County, California
given in 1821 to Bernardo Higuera and Cornelio Lopez by Pablo Vicente de Sola
, the Spanish Governor of Alta California
. In 1843, this Spanish grant was confirmed by Mexican Governor Manuel Micheltorena
. Rincón, translated from the Spanish, means corner or nook, and Bueyes are oxen or steer.
and Rancho La Cienega o Paso de la Tijera
. On the west, there was Rancho La Ballona
. Bordering the northwest boundary was Rancho San Jose de Buenos Ayres
and to the northeast there was Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas
.Rincon de Los Bueyes encompasses present day Cheviot Hills
, Rancho Park
, the northeast extension of Culver City
, and a small section of Baldwin Hills
with Ballona Creek
.
of the Pueblo de Los Angeles
in 1800. In 1834 Bernardo Higuera, and his wife, Maria Rosalia Polomares, moved to Los Angeles, leaving his brothers Mariano and Policarpio to run the ranch. Bernardo Higuera bequeathed his Rancho Rincon de los Bueyes to his two sons, Francisco and Secundino.
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, Francisco and Secundino Higuera filed their claim for Rancho Rincon de los Bueyes with the Public Land Commission
in 1852. Their claim was rejected by the Commission in 1854, but upheld by the District Court in 1861. The grant was patented
to Francisco and Secundino Higuera in 1872.
In 1849, José De Arnaz (1820–1895), the grantee of Rancho Ex-Mission San Buenaventura
, bought Secundino Higuera's half share, and in 1867 bought Francisco Higuera's. In 1853, José de Arnaz, filed a claim for five square leagues of Santa Clara Mission rejected. In 1869 after the death of his wife, Maria Mercedes de Avila (1832–1867), Arnaz married Maria Camarillo (1848–1916) and moved to San Jose
. He later returned to live on Rancho Rincon de los Bueyes.
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 Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
given in 1821 to Bernardo Higuera and Cornelio Lopez by Pablo Vicente de Sola
Pablo Vicente de Solá
Pablo Vicente de Solá , the last Spanish governor of Alta California from 1815-1822....
, the Spanish Governor of Alta California
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,...
. In 1843, this Spanish grant was confirmed by Mexican 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...
. Rincón, translated from the Spanish, means corner or nook, and Bueyes are oxen or steer.
Geography
The grant was for the most part, diamond shaped with the exception of the southeast corner extending over one mile deeper than the other three corners. It was relatively small for a Spanish concession at that time and it was surrounded on all sides by five different ranchos. To the east there were two: Rancho Las CienegasRancho Las Cienegas
Rancho Las Cienegas was a Mexican land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given in 1823 to Francisco Avila. "La Cienega" is derived from the Spanish word cienaga, which means swamp or marshland and refers to the natural springs and wetlands in the area between the Baldwin Hills...
and Rancho La Cienega o Paso de la Tijera
Rancho La Cienega o Paso de la Tijera
Rancho La Cienega o Paso de la Tijera was a Mexican land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Vicente Sánchez...
. On the west, there was Rancho La Ballona
Rancho la Ballona
Rancho La Ballona was a Mexican land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California confirmed by governor Juan Alvarado in 1839 to Ygnacio and Augustin Machado and Felipe and Tomas Talamantes...
. Bordering the northwest boundary was Rancho San Jose de Buenos Ayres
Rancho San Jose de Buenos Ayres
Rancho San Jose de Buenos Ayres was a Mexican land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given by Governor Micheltorena in 1843 to Maximo Alanis. The area that was given to Alanis now occupies Westwood, UCLA, Holmby Hills, and Bel Air, Los Angeles...
and to the northeast there was Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas
Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas
Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas was a land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given in Maria Rita Valdez de Villa. Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas , is named for the streams that emptied into the area from out of the canyons above it, Cañada de las Aguas Frias and Cañada de los Encinos...
.Rincon de Los Bueyes encompasses present day Cheviot Hills
Cheviot Hills, Los Angeles, California
Cheviot Hills is a small residential district on the West Side of Los Angeles, California. It served as the location for the Three's Company spin-off The Ropers.-Geography:...
, Rancho Park
Rancho Park, Los Angeles, California
Rancho Park is a small residential neighborhood in West Los Angeles, California with mostly single family homes and tree lined streets. The community is nestled between Westwood and Cheviot Hills. This enclave draws young professionals and families and is home to residents working in a variety of...
, the northeast extension of Culver City
Culver City, California
Culver City is a city in western Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 38,883, up from 38,816 at the 2000 census. It is mostly surrounded by the city of Los Angeles, but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Culver...
, and a small section of Baldwin Hills
Baldwin Hills, Los Angeles, California
Baldwin Hills is a community and neighborhood in the South Los Angeles area of Los Angeles, within southwestern Los Angeles County, California...
with Ballona Creek
Ballona Creek
Ballona Creek is an waterway in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, whose watershed drains the Los Angeles basin, from the Santa Monica Mountains on the north, the Harbor Freeway on the east, and the Baldwin Hills on the south...
.
History
Governor Vicente de Sola granted a concession to Bernardo Higuera and Cornelio Lopez in 1821. Lopez soon quarreled with Higuera, leaving the latter in possession. Bernardo Higuera was the son of Joaquin Higuera, the alcaldeAlcalde
Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...
of the Pueblo de Los Angeles
Pueblo de Los Angeles
El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles was the Spanish civilian pueblo founded in 1781, which by the 20th century became the American metropolis of Los Angeles....
in 1800. In 1834 Bernardo Higuera, and his wife, Maria Rosalia Polomares, moved to Los Angeles, leaving his brothers Mariano and Policarpio to run the ranch. Bernardo Higuera bequeathed his Rancho Rincon de los Bueyes to his two sons, Francisco and Secundino.
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, Francisco and Secundino Higuera filed their claim for Rancho Rincon de los Bueyes 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. Their claim was rejected by the Commission in 1854, but upheld by the District Court in 1861. 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 Francisco and Secundino Higuera in 1872.
In 1849, José De Arnaz (1820–1895), the grantee of Rancho Ex-Mission San Buenaventura
Rancho Ex-Mission San Buenaventura
Rancho Ex-Mission San Buenaventura was a Mexican land grant in present day Ventura County, California given in 1846 by Governor Pio Pico to José de Arnaz...
, bought Secundino Higuera's half share, and in 1867 bought Francisco Higuera's. In 1853, José de Arnaz, filed a claim for five square leagues of Santa Clara Mission rejected. In 1869 after the death of his wife, Maria Mercedes de Avila (1832–1867), Arnaz married Maria Camarillo (1848–1916) and moved to San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. He later returned to live on Rancho Rincon de los Bueyes.