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City of Pleasanton—Hidden Canyon Residences and Preserve Cultural Resources and Tribal Cultural Resources Draft EIR 3.4-4 FirstCarbon Solutions https://adecinnovations.sharepoint.com/sites/PublicationsSite/Shared Documents/Publications/Client (PN-JN)/2148/21480016/EIR/3 - Draft EIR/21480016 Sec03-04 Cultural-Tribal Cultural Resources.docx Hispanic Era Early Spanish expeditions in central California followed existing Native American trails. The period of initial historic exploration of the project area began in 1769. Between 1769 and 1776 a number of Spanish expeditions passed through Ohlone territory including those led by Portola, Fages, Fages and Crespi, Anza, Rivera, and Moraga. Even though the routes of the early explorers cannot be determined with total accuracy, none appear to have proceeded through vicinity of the proposed project site. Pedro Fages traveled through the Livermore valley in1770 passing through the Dublin- Pleasanton vicinity. The team noted “two villages close together south of [present-day] Dublin” and a large village of “perhaps over two hundred of both sexes.” During the Spanish Period, the project site was within the lands of Mission San Jose which was established in 1797as the 14th of the 21 Missions founded in California. This mission, located in the southeast area of present-day Fremont, had jurisdiction over southern Alameda County. As one of seven missions in Ohlone territory, Mission San Jose had the greatest impact on the Native population living in the project area. After Mexico seceded from Spain in 1822, land grants to private citizens increased significantly, especially following the 1833 act of the Mexican legislature ordering the secularization of the missions. Mexican Period land grants in the Amador/Livermore valley include Rancho San Ramon in 1835 to J.M. Amador; Rancho El Valle de San Jose in 1839 to Augustin and Antonio Pico, and Juan Pablo Bernal; Rancho Santa Rita in 1839 to Jose Pacheco; and Rancho Las Positas in 1839 to Robert Livermore and Jose Noriega (Halley 1876:492). The project site was located just west of the Rancho Santa Rita within ungranted lands with Rancho San Ramon (16,516 acres) located north of the Lester/Shriner property. None of the known Hispanic Era dwellings or other features (e.g., roads, corrals, etc.) were located in or adjacent to the project. American Era In the mid-19th century, most of the rancho and pueblo lands in California were subdivided as the result of population growth, the American takeover and the confirmation of property titles. The initial increase in population was associated with the Gold Rush (1848), followed later by the construction of the transcontinental railroad (1869). Still later, the development of the refrigerator railroad car (ca. 1880s) used for the transport of agricultural produce to distant markets had a major impact on population growth. The growth of the general study area was dependent on ranching/farming and transportation–first by water and roads and later, by rail and then by air. In 1848, California became a United States territory as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which ended the war with Mexico. California was formally admitted as a State in 1850. The Gold Rush in the same year brought a massive influx of immigrants to California from all parts of the world. California's 1848 population of less than 14,000 (exclusive of Indians) increased to 224,000 in four years. As many of these new immigrants became discouraged with gold mining, they sought a more stable livelihood as farmers and ranchers. The new increase in population also created a domestic market for agricultural products that had never existed before. Once the owners of the Mexican ranches obtained clear title to their land, they typically sold off parcels to the newcomers who started farms and ranches.