Alta California ("Upper California") was formed in 1804 when the province of California, then a part of the Spanish colony of New Spain, was divided in two along the line separating the Franciscan missions in the north from the Dominican missions in the south. The southern part became the territory of Baja California. The two territories were also alternatively called "California Nueva" (Alta) and "California Vieja" (Baja). 1804 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Flag of New Spain New Spain (in the Spanish language Nueva España) was the name given to the Spanish colonial territory in North America from c. ... The Order of Friars Minor and other Franciscan movements are disciples of Saint Francis of Assisi. ... Baja California (highlighted) Alternative use: Baja California (state) Baja California or Lower California is a peninsula in the west of Mexico. ...

Alta California — covering the land occupied by the modern-day U.S. states of California, Nevada, Utah, northern Arizona and southwestern Wyoming — was recognized as one of the constituent territories of the newly independent United Mexican States with the adoption of the 1824 Constitution following its War of Independence and short-lived First Empire. During the Mexican-American War of 1846–48 and following the brief interlude of the proclaimed independent California Republic, Alta California was successfully invaded by the United States. The territory was ceded to the U.S. under the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Wikiquote has quotations related to United States. ... State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Official languages English Area 410,000 km² (3rd)  - Land 404,298 km²  - Water 20,047 km² (4. ... State nickname: Silver State, Battle Born State (official) Other U.S. States Capital Carson City Largest city Las Vegas Governor Kenny Guinn Official languages None Area 286,367 km² (7th)  - Land 284,396 km²  - Water 1,971 km² (0. ... State nickname: Beehive State Other U.S. States Capital Salt Lake City Largest city Salt Lake City Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. ... State nickname: The Grand Canyon State, The Copper State Other U.S. States Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix Governor Janet Napolitano Official languages English Only State Area 295,254 km² (6th)  - Land 294,312 km²  - Water 942 km² (0. ... State nickname: Equality State Other U.S. States Capital Cheyenne Largest city Cheyenne Governor Dave Freudenthal Official languages English Area 253,554 km² (10th)  - Land 251,706 km²  - Water 1,851 km² (0. ... The Mexican War of Independence, which lasted from 1810 to 1821, was Mexicos struggle for independence against Spanish colonial rule. ... The Mexican Empire was the name of Mexico on two non-consecutive occasions in the 19th century when it was ruled by an Emperor. ... The Mexican-American War was a war fought between the United States and Mexico between 1846 and 1848. ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The first Bear Flag. ... 1848 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Mexican Cession (red) and the Gadsden Purchase (orange) The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War. ...

The last Mexican Governor of California was Pío Pico, who served until 1846. This is a list of pre-statehood governors of California. ... Pío de Jesus Pico IV (May 5, 1801–September 11, 1894) was the last Mexican Governor of Alta California, now the U.S. state of California. ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

In the second half of the 19th century, there was a San Francisco-based newspaper called the Alta California (or sometimes the Alta Californian). Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the city in California. ...

Ranchos of California

Under Spanish rule, all lands in California were claimed by the king of Spain, who granted them to the Catholic Church and to individuals. When California came under control of the Mexican government the missions were secularized and the governors gained the power to grant state lands. Few ranchos stayed intact for long, either growing or shrinking, or changing hands entirely depending on the fortunes of the owners. Some of the more famous ranchos and their descendent communities: The Roman Catholic Church believes its founding was based on Jesus appointment of Saint Peter as the primary church leader, later Bishop of Rome. ...

• Rancho la Ballona, owned by the Machado and Talamantes families
  • Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, Inglewood, and the Ocean Park district of Santa Monica.
• Rancho Boca de Santa Monica
  
  • Santa Monica
• Rancho de las Pulgas, to Luis Antonio Argüello
• Rancho La Cañada
  • Parts of Eagle Rock, La Cañada Flintridge
• Rancho Rinconada de Los Gatos, granted in 1839 to Jose Maria Hernandez and Sebastian Fabian Peralta. 6,631 acres (27 km²)
  
  • Los Gatos, Monte Sereno
• Rancho Rosa Castilla, created by the family of Juan Batista Batz, a Basque rancher from northern Spain who settled here in the 1850s-now it's known as CSULA.
  • University Hills
• Rancho San Antonio, granted 1810 by the King of Spain to Antonio María Lugo, maximum size: 29,513 acres (119 km²).
  
  • Bell Gardens, Commerce, and parts of Bell, Cudahy, Lynwood, Montebello, South Gate, Vernon and East Los Angeles.
• Rancho San Lorenzo, granted in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Guillermo Castro. 26,722 acres (108 km²)
  
  • Hayward, Castro Valley
• Rancho San Lorenzo Baja Rancho in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Francisco Soto
  
  • San Lorenzo
• Rancho San Rafael, granted 1798 by the King of Spain to Jose Maria Verdugo
  
  • Glendale, Atwater Village, Eagle Rock, and Highland Park
• Rancho San Vicente y Santa Monica
  
  • Santa Monica, Brentwood
• Rancho Soscol, granted 1844 by Governor Pio Pico to Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
  
  • Vallejo and Petaluma

Venice Beach and Boardwalk Venice, California, is a district of the city of Los Angeles, California. ... Marina del Rey boat harbor Marina del Rey is a census-designated place and seaside town located in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, California. ... In the City of Los Angeles, Playa del Rey is the section of beachfront just south of the Ballona Wetlands and Ballona Creek and Marina del Rey; thus, the beach population is divided here. ... Inglewood is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. ... Santa Monica Pier Santa Monica is a coastal city located in Los Angeles County, California USA, by the Pacific Ocean, south of Pacific Palisades and Brentwood, west of Westwood, Los Angeles, and north of Venice. ... Santa Monica Pier Santa Monica is a coastal city located in Los Angeles County, California USA, by the Pacific Ocean, south of Pacific Palisades and Brentwood, west of Westwood, Los Angeles, and north of Venice. ... Eagle Rock is a neighborhood in northeastern Los Angeles, California. ... 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Los Gatos is a town located in Santa Clara County, California. ... Monte Sereno is a city located in Santa Clara County, California. ... University Hills is a neighborhood in northeastern Los Angeles, California. ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Bell Gardens is a city located in United States. ... Commerce is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. ... Bell is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. ... Cudahy is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. ... Lynwood is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. ... View of Montebello and Pico Rivera from Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, notice the Downtown Los Angeles skyline in the distant background Montebello is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. ... South Gate is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. ... Vernon is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. ... Welcome sign on Atlantic Boulevard East Los Angeles (often shortened to East L.A.) is an unincorporated area located in Los Angeles County, California, United States that is bounded by the city of Los Angeles to the west and north, the cities of Montebello and Monterey Park to the east... 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The city of Hayward highlighted within Alameda County Hayward is a city located in Alameda County, California. ... Castro Valley is a census-designated place located in Alameda County, California. ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... San Lorenzo is a census-designated place located in Alameda County, California. ... 1798 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... County Los Angeles County, California Area  - Total  - Water 79. ... Atwater Village is a neighborhood in northeast Los Angeles, California. ... Eagle Rock is a neighborhood in northeastern Los Angeles, California. ... Highland Park is a neighborhood of northeast Los Angeles. ... Santa Monica Pier Santa Monica is a coastal city located in Los Angeles County, California USA, by the Pacific Ocean, south of Pacific Palisades and Brentwood, west of Westwood, Los Angeles, and north of Venice. ... This article is about the neighborhood in Los Angeles. ... 1844 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Pío de Jesus Pico IV (May 5, 1801–September 11, 1894) was the last Mexican Governor of Alta California, now the U.S. state of California. ... Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo (7 July 1808 - 12 January 1890) was born at Monterey, California, entered the Monterey Presidial Academy in 1823. ... Vallejo is a city located in Solano County, California. ... Petaluma is a city located in Sonoma County, California. ...

See also

For the Spanish and Mexican control of Alta California

• Spanish colonization of the Americas
• History of California
• Spanish Missions of California
• List of pre-statehood governors of California
• Presidio of Monterey, California
• Presidio of San Francisco
• El Camino Real (California)
• Island of California

Spanish colonization of the Americas began with the arrival in the Americas of Christopher Columbus in 1492. ... Although the present-day state of California has been occupied for millennia, the lack of a written history and the significant marginalization in the population of native inhabitants after European colonization means that most of its known history begins with European exploration. ... The Spanish Missions of California (more simply referred to as the California Missions) comprise a series of religious outposts established by Spanish Catholic Dominicans, Jesuits, and Franciscans, to spread the Christian doctrine among the local Native Americans, but with the added benefit of giving Spain a toehold in the frontier... This is a list of pre-statehood governors of California. ... The military has played a role in the history of the Monterey Peninsula since 1770 when a small expedition led by captain Gaspar de Portola, officially took possession for Spain of what is now central California. ... The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in the City and County of San Francisco. ... El Camino Real in California is historically the road built in 1769 by Father Junípero Serra to connect the Catholic missions in Alta California between Sonoma in the north, and (what is now Presidio Park in) San Diego in the south, during the Spanish colonial era, and now a... The Island of California is shown on a 1650 map by Nicolas Sanson The Island of California refers to a long-held European misconception, dating from the 16th century, that California was not part of mainland North America but rather a large island separated from the continent by the Mare...

For Russian colonization of Northern California

• Russian colonization of the Americas
• Fort Ross

After the discovery of northern Alaska by Ivan Fedorov in 1732, and the Aleutian Islands, southern Alaska, and north-western shores of North America in 1741 during the Russian exploration conducted by Vitus Bering and Aleksei Chirikov, it took fifty years until the founding of the first Russian colony in... Fort Ross is a former Russian fur trade outpost in what is now Sonoma County, California (United States). ...

For the transition to control by the United States

• List of pre-statehood governors of California
• California Republic
• Bear Flag Revolt
• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
• Treaty of Cahuenga