The County of Orange was established in 1889 by founders William Spurgeon and James McFadden. The City of Santa Ana became the county seat the same year. Prior to its formation, the Orange County lands were part of Los Angeles County.
Further back in history, California lands were organized into Spanish land grants or "Ranchos". In the case of Orange County, there is record of José Antonio Yorba and Juan Pablo Peralta (nephew) being granted Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana in 1810, year of the commencement of the war of Mexican Independence. Santiago de Santa Ana is recorded as the only Orange County land grant given under Spanish Rule.
Other surrounding land grants in Orange County were granted and recorded after 1821, that is, after the war of Mexican Independence and by the Mexican government. Some modern day cities in Orange County retain the names of the Mexican land grants as agreed upon in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
List of Orange County Ranchos
Grant Granted Grantor Grantee Area(s)Rancho Los Nietos1784, 1833 partitioned into 5 ranchosSpanish Governor Pedro Fages, partition by Mexican Governor José FigueroaJosé Manuel NietoRanchos: Los Alamitos, Las Bolsas, Los Cerritos, Los Coyotes, Santa Gertrudes, Rancho Palo Alto Santiago de Santa Ana1810Spanish King Ferdinand VII-Governor José Joaquín de ArrillagaJosé Antonio YorbaSanta Ana, Costa Mesa, Orange, Tustin, El Modena, OliveCañón de Santa Ana1834Mexican Governor José FigueroaBernardo YorbaYorba Linda, Yorba Hacienda Los Alamitos1834Mexican Governor José FigueroaAbel StearnsLos Alamitos, Long Beach, Seal BeachLas Bolsas 1834Mexican Governor José FigueroaMaria Catarina RuizHuntington Beach, Westminster, Garden Grove, Los Coyotes1834Mexican Governor José FigueroaJuan José NietoBuena Park, Stanton, Cerritos, La MiradaSan Juan Cajón de Santa Ana 1837Mexican Governor Juan AlvaradoJuan Pacífico OntiverosAnaheim, Fullerton, PlacentiaLa Habra1839Mexican Governor Juan AlvaradoMariano Reyes RoldanLa HabraLa Bolsa Chica1841Mexican Governor Juan AlvaradoJoaquín RuízBolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, Sunset Beach San Joaquín 1842Mexican Governor Juan Bautista AlvaradoJosé Antonio Andres SepúlvedaUpper Newport Bay, Newport Beach, Corona del mar, southern IrvineNiguel1842Mexican Governor Juan Bautista AlvaradoJuan ÁvilaLaguna Canyon, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Dana PointCañada de Los AlisosMexican Governor Juan Bautista AlvaradoJose Antonio Fernando SerranoLake Forest, Irvine, Orange County Great Park, Jose Serrano Adobe, Orange County District 5. Misión Vieja1845Mexican Governor Pío PicoJohn (Don Juan) ForsterMission Viejo; San Juan Capistrano—(on land to south with no title grant) Boca de la Playa1846Mexican Governor Pío PicoEmigdio VejarSan Clemente; Dana Point and Capistrano Beach—(on land to west with no title grant) Lomas de Santiago 1846Mexican Governor Pío PicoTeodosio YorbaNorthern Irvine, Silverado, Modjeska Canyon, Black Star Canyon Trabuco 1846Mexican Governor Juan Bautista AlvaradoSantiago ArgüelloTrabuco Canyon, Coto de Caza, Trabuco Creek
References Beers, Henry Putney, (1979). Spanish & Mexican records of the American Southwest : a bibliographical guide to archive and manuscript sources, University of Arizona Press, Tucson Pleasants, Adelene (1931). History of Orange County, California. Vol. 1, Los Angeles, CA : J. R. Finnell & Sons Publishing Company
External links Santa Ana Public Library City of Santa Ana County of Orange Orange County Recorder Orange County Surveyor Spanish and Mexican Ranchos of Orange County (At OC County web site)
See also Ranchos of California Ranchos of Los Angeles County