| 3. American Settlement |
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American
Settlement
The first American settlers arrived in the Santa Clara
Valley in the early 1830s. With the opening of the California
Trail in 1844, thousands of American immigrants made the
long trek over mountains and plains in search of land
and, later, gold. Some of these new immigrants were among
those obtaining grants from Mission Santa Clara's lands.
They brought a new culture that overwhelmed the Californio
way of life.
Santa Clara
Takes Shape
Many American immigrants lived on and around Mission
Santa Clara's grounds in the late 1840s. Some paid rent
and others just "squatted." In October 1847,
Father Suarez del Real of Mission Santa Clara hired William
Campbell to survey the lots near the mission complex and
draw up a town plat, the beginning of what is now Santa
Clara. Each lot was 300 feet square.
Gold
Rush & Statehood
Santa Clara experienced many significant changes in the
mid 1800s. The war with Mexico ended in 1848 and California
became an American possession. A few months later, gold
was discovered in Coloma and thousands rushed to California
in search of riches. Santa Clara's population decreased
dramatically as residents joined the Gold Rush. On September
9, 1850, California entered the Union as the 31st state.
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| Santa Clara Incorporated |
| On July 5, 1852, Santa Clara was incorporated
as a township with the approval of the California State Legislature.
At that time, Santa Clara consisted of about 2,000 acres with
a population of approximately 200 people. They lived in a cluster
of adobes and simple frame houses that had grown up around the
mission and its college. The square shape of the original town
is still known as the Old Quad. |
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