Rancho San Emidio

rdf:langString Rancho San Emidio

rdf:langString Rancho San Emidio was a 17,710-acre (71.7 km2) Mexican land grant in present-day Kern County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to José Antonio Dominguez. The grant was located along San Emigdio Creek in the northeastern foothills of the San Emigdio Mountains, between Santiago Creek on the west and Pleitito Creek on the east. There is speculation on the name. Either it is an alternative spelling of San Emigdio (Saint Emygdius the protector Saint against earthquakes), or an intentional corruption, meant as a witticism since "emidio" means tired or weary. The rancho was established at a way stop at the foot of San Emigdio Canyon on El Camino Viejo ('the old road,' 18th-19th century) that ran along the eastern edge of the San Joaquin Valley from Pueblo de Los Angeles to the Mission Santa Clara de Asís and later on to Rancho San Antonio, on San Francisco Bay.