San Francisquito Canyon
Encyclopedia
San Francisquito Canyon is a canyon created by the erosion of the Sierra Pelona Ridge of the San Gabriel Mountains
within the Transverse Range of California
, USA by San Francisquito Creek
. At its head is the San Francisquito Pass
which the early routes between Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley
crossed. The canyon ends in the Santa Clara Valley
.
by priests from the San Fernando and San Buenaventura
missions and later by Californios until 1848 when gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill
by James W. Marshall
.
From 1820 San Francisquito Canyon and San Francisquito Pass
was part of the route of the El Camino Viejo
. From 1854, the wagon route of the Stockton - Los Angeles Road followed its course as did the Butterfield Overland Mail in California from 1858-1861. This Tejon Pass Route and the Tehachapi or Midway Route (first followed by the Southern Pacific Railroad), remained the major north south wagon and later automobile routes to the San Joaquin Valley until the construction of the more direct Ridge Route.
San Gabriel Mountains
The San Gabriel Mountains Range is located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, United States. The mountain range lies between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert, with Interstate 5 to the west and Interstate 15 to the east...
within the Transverse Range of 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...
, USA by San Francisquito Creek
San Francisquito Creek (Santa Clara River)
San Francisquito Creek, in Los Angeles County, is a tributary stream of the Santa Clara River. It drains the south facing slopes of the Sierra Pelona Ridge of the San Gabriel Mountains within the Transverse Range of California, USA....
. At its head is the San Francisquito Pass
San Francisquito Pass
San Francisquito Pass, is a mountain pass of the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Green Valley, in Los Angeles County, California. This pass, at the elevation 3655 feet, was at the head of San Francisquito Canyon where from the time of the Spanish roads to the north from Los Angeles to the San...
which the early routes between Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
crossed. The canyon ends in the Santa Clara Valley
Santa Clara River (California)
The Santa Clara River is approximately long, located in southern California in the United States. It drains an area of the coastal mountains north of Los Angeles. The Santa Clara is one of the largest river systems along the coast of Southern California and one of only a few remaining river...
.
History
San Francisquito Canyon was the site of placer miningPlacer mining
Placer mining is the mining of alluvial deposits for minerals. This may be done by open-pit or by various surface excavating equipment or tunneling equipment....
by priests from the San Fernando and San Buenaventura
Mission San Buenaventura
Mission San Buenaventura was founded on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1782 in Las Californias, part of the Spanish Viceroyalty of New Spain. Named for a Franciscan theologian, Saint Bonaventure, it was the last of the missions founded by Father Serra...
missions and later by Californios until 1848 when gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill
Sutter's Mill
Sutter's Mill was a sawmill owned by 19th century pioneer John Sutter in partnership with James W. Marshall. It was located in Coloma, California, at the bank of the South Fork American River...
by James W. Marshall
James W. Marshall
James Wilson Marshall was an American carpenter and sawmill operator, whose discovery of gold in the American River in California on January 24, 1848 set the stage for the California Gold Rush. The mill property was owned by Johan Sutter who employed Marshall to build his mill...
.
From 1820 San Francisquito Canyon and San Francisquito Pass
San Francisquito Pass
San Francisquito Pass, is a mountain pass of the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Green Valley, in Los Angeles County, California. This pass, at the elevation 3655 feet, was at the head of San Francisquito Canyon where from the time of the Spanish roads to the north from Los Angeles to the San...
was part of the route of the El Camino Viejo
El Camino Viejo
El Camino Viejo à Los Angeles , also known as the Old Los Angeles Trail, established in 1820's, was the oldest north-south trail in the interior of Alta California...
. From 1854, the wagon route of the Stockton - Los Angeles Road followed its course as did the Butterfield Overland Mail in California from 1858-1861. This Tejon Pass Route and the Tehachapi or Midway Route (first followed by the Southern Pacific Railroad), remained the major north south wagon and later automobile routes to the San Joaquin Valley until the construction of the more direct Ridge Route.