Rancho Bernardo is located in the northern region of San Diego County, California, about 25 miles to the north of downtown San Diego. The community lies to the north of Carmel Mountain Ranch, northwest of Poway, east of Ramona, and south of Escondido. Established by the San Diego City Council in 1962, this master-planned community has a rich and interesting history.
Rancho Bernardo sits on the land granted by Mexico to Captain Joseph Snook between 1842 and 1845. This land grant measuring a total of 17,763 acres, was the beginning of what would later be known as Rancho Bernardo.*
Called as the "La Canada de San Bernardo" initially, meaning "The Gorge of Saint Bernard", Rancho Bernardo was perhaps named after St. Bernard of Clairvaux - a theologian of the middle ages who led the Second Crusade during the times. As the name suggests, Rancho Bernardo's terrain was largely made of canyons and rolling hills. Its rich topography consisting of fertile land and beautiful valleys would soon attract people from various frontiers. Home to the Native Americans in the beginning, Rancho Bernardo later drew in a wide range of people from the conquistadors, mission padres, explorers, traders, ranchers and other settlers including the developers of the modern city of Rancho Bernardo. Rancho Bernardo came under the possession of the Spanish colonial government following Spain’s expansion into Alta California, and the establishment of the San Diego de Alcala Mission in 1769.
There is strong evidence that indicates that Native Americans originally occupied the area now known as Rancho Bernardo. There are many pictographs and stone hollows originally used by Native Americans for grinding corn and acorns. Later the conquistadors came in search of riches to this part of the country followed by the mission padres and converts, who moved in primarily to raise cattle and grow grapes in the valleys. Soon Rancho Bernardo saw the entry of the mission padres of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as soldiers who stayed in presidios protecting them. The vast terrain and rich grazing grounds attracted many ranchers too, who made the region their home. The volatile situation among Native Americans and settlers exploded in 1837, when the settlers suffered heavily during a raid by the Indians for having encroached into their lands.
In 1822, the Mexican revolution against Spain brought Rancho Bernardo and the rest of California under Mexican governance. The Rancho period began under Mexican rule when the Governors promoted settlement by granting large land grants to individuals. These land grants were turned into ranches for raising cattle and sheep.
Rancho Bernardo had perfect ranching conditions. Its mild, year-round, climate suited the rearing of livestock. The region became known for exports such as cowhides and animal fat.
The first documented owner of Rancho Bernardo is Captain Joseph Sevenoaks, an English seafarer who came to California in 1830. Subsequently, Sevenoaks married a Mexican woman and converted to Catholicism assuming the name Don Jose Francisco Snook. His Mexican citizenship made him eligible to ask for land. In 1842 and 1845, Captain Snook received two land grants from Mexico for a total of 17,763 acres.* The land grant included the area north of Lake Hodges to San Penasquitos Creek (along Highway 15), which was later the location of Rancho Bernardo. Captain Snook used the vast land he acquired as a working cattle ranch. The current-day neighborhoods of “Rancho Bernardo” and “Seven Oaks” were named in honor of Captain Snook.
Later, Rancho Bernardo was the setting for the Battle of San Pasqual, which occurred during the American-Mexican war. During 1848, California became a part of American territory and achieved statehood in 1850. Snook died in 1848 and his widow sold this land to Thomas Fox in 1867 in order to pay off debts. Fox however, held title to the land only for a year and subsequently sold it to James McCoy in 1868. Beyond this period, Rancho Bernardo kept changing hands and each time it got divided into smaller and smaller lots.
Rancho Bernardo kept changing hands without notable incidents until John & Laurence Daley purchased the land. The Daley’s were later joined by W.R. Hawn and Harry L. Summers in 1961 to form a corporation known as Rancho Bernardo, Inc. Harry Summers was a renowned developer and he made exceptional plans for the land with wide streets, exclusive neighborhoods, and comprehensive entertainment options. This corporation was later acquired by AVCO Community Developers.
From the times of AVCO Community Developers, Rancho Bernardo saw itself being spearheaded into a master-planned community complete with residential developments, cultural and entertainment centers, educational institutions, shopping areas, open spaces, clubs, beautiful golf courses and much more. Today, Rancho Bernardo, with an expanse of 7000 acres and a population of over 40,000, has grown to become one of the most sought-after communities in the State of California.
* Reference: californiaweekly.com |
