Rancho San Francisco
| Rancho San Francisco | |
|---|---|
1843 Map of Rancho San Francisco
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| Location | Northwestern Los Angeles County and eastern Ventura County, California |
| Coordinates | 34°23′24″N 118°34′48″W / 34.390°N 118.580°WCoordinates: 34°23′24″N 118°34′48″W / 34.390°N 118.580°W |
| Area | 48,612 acres (19,673 ha) |
| Official name: Rancho San Francisco | |
| Reference no. | 556 |
| Official name: Oak of the Golden Dream | |
| Reference no. | 168 |
Rancho San Francisco was a land grant in present-day northwestern Los Angeles County and eastern Ventura County, California. It was a grant of 48,612 acres (19,673 ha) by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Antonio del Valle, a Mexican army officer, in recognition for his service to the state of Alta California. It is not related to the city of San Francisco.
The rancho was the location of the first popularly known finding of gold in the Southern California area in 1842, in Placerita Canyon. Much of the present day city of Santa Clarita lies within the boundary of what was Rancho San Francisco. The adobe headquarters of the rancho, and the site of the gold find (known today as the "Oak of the Golden Dream"), are designated California Historical Landmarks. The rancho included portions of the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, Topatopa, and Sierra Pelona Mountain ranges.
After Mission San Fernando Rey de España was established in 1797, the administrators there realized they would need more land for agriculture and livestock, and they looked north to the Santa Clarita Valley to establish their estancia, or mission rancho. Subsequently, the Tataviam who had been living there were relocated to the Mission, where they were baptized and put to work. The Estancia de San Francisco Xavier was built in 1804 at the confluence of Castaic Creek and the Santa Clara River.
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