Cuddy Valley | |
---|---|
Unincorporated community | |
Location in California | |
Coordinates: 34°49′27″N 119°01′23″W / 34.82417°N 119.02306°WCoordinates: 34°49′27″N 119°01′23″W / 34.82417°N 119.02306°W | |
Country | United States |
State | California |
County | Kern County |
Elevation | 5,282 ft (1,610 m) |
Cuddy Valley is a valley in the San Andreas Rift Zone south of the San Emigdio Mountains west of Tejon Pass, and unincorporated community in Kern County, California, and part of the Mountain Communities. It lies at an elevation of 5,282 feet 1610 m).
What is now the Cuddy Valley was a water and grazing place along El Camino Viejo (18th - 19th century). The Old Road came over what is now the Tejon Pass from what would become Gorman then turned west up Cuddy Creek to Cuddy Valley its spring. Afterward the road descended to the north, through the San Emigdio Mountains, via San Emigdio Canyon along San Emigdio Creek to the San Joaquin Valley. At the foot of the mountains at the creek's mouth was the next stop, that became the 1842 Mexican land grant of Rancho San Emidio.
Cuddy Valley, Cuddy Creek and Cuddy Canyon are named for John Fletcher Cuddy, who came to the United States from Ireland during the Great Potato Famine. He joined the U. S. Army and after being discharged in 1853, followed his former unit, the 1st Dragoon Regiment, to Fort Tejon in 1854 as a civilian teamster. He became the herdsman for the fort and found meadow in a valley some miles west of the fort that was ideal for grazing its stock.