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Alta California




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 184648 and following the brief interlude of the proclaimed independent California Republic , Alta California became part of the United States.
The territory was ceded to the U.S. under the 1848 Treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo .

The last Mexican Governor Of California was Pío Pico , who served until 1846 .

In the second half of the 19th Century , there was a San Francisco -based Newspaper called the ''Alta California'' (or sometimes the ''Alta Californian'').


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:



SEE ALSO


For the Spanish and Mexican control of Alta California



For Russian colonization of Northern California