Initial strength :
66-651: The Mill Valley School District is located 13 miles north of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County, California . The district has 5 elementary schools and 1 middle school with an enrollment of approximately 3,200 students in grades K through 8. Four of the schools are located within the City of Mill Valley , while two are located in the adjacent unincorporated areas of Strawberry and Tamalpais Valley . The district includes almost all of Mill Valley, all of
132-622: A 75.1 percent to 24.9 percent margin. The official tally was 103,341 against and 34,324 in favor. Only San Francisco County voted against the measure by a wider margin (75.2% against). According to the California Secretary of State , as of February 10, 2019, Marin County has 161,870 registered voters. Of those, 89,526 (55.31%) are registered Democrats, 23,380 (14.44%) are registered Republicans , 7,020 (4.35%) are registered with other political parties, and 41,908 (25.89%) have declined to state
198-801: A detachment of one hundred soldiers, and arrived in California on February 18, 1847, at about the same time that the ship Sweden arrived with another detachment of soldiers. These soldiers were added to the existing companies of Stevenson's 1st New York Volunteer Regiment. These troops essentially took over nearly all of the Pacific Squadron's onshore military and garrison duties and the California Battalion 's garrison duties. In January 1847, Lieutenant William Tecumseh Sherman and about 100 regular U.S. Army soldiers arrived in Monterey. American forces in
264-616: A political party. Democrats hold wide voter-registration majorities in all political subdivisions in Marin County. Democrats' largest registration advantage in Marin is in the town of Fairfax , wherein there are only 344 Republicans (6.1%) out of 5,678 total voters compared to 3,758 Democrats (66.2%) and 1,276 voters who have declined to state a political party (22.5%). Conquest of California Peak strength : Initial strength : Peak strength : The Conquest of California , also known as
330-471: A population of 252,409. The racial makeup of Marin County was 201,963 (80.0%) White , 6,987 (2.8%) African American , 1,523 (0.6%) Native American , 13,761 (5.5%) Asian , 509 (0.2%) Pacific Islander , 16,973 (6.7%) from other races , and 10,693 (4.2%) from two or more races. There were 39,069 people of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race (15.5%). As of the census of 2000, there were 247,289 people, 100,650 households, and 60,691 families residing in
396-545: A shot. On July 15, Sloat transferred his command to Commodore Robert F. Stockton , a much more aggressive leader. Convincing news of a state of war between the U.S. and Mexico had previously reached Stockton. The 400 to 650 marines and bluejackets (sailors) of Stockton's Pacific Squadron were the largest U.S. ground force in California. The rest of Stockton's troops were needed to man his vessels. To supplement this remaining force, Commodore Stockton ordered Captain John C. Frémont , on
462-682: A survey expedition of the U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers with about 60 well-armed men, crossed the Sierra Nevada range in December 1845. They had reached the Oregon Territory by May 1846, when Frémont received word that war between Mexico and the U.S. was imminent. On June 14, 1846, the Bear Flag Revolt occurred when some 30 rebels, mostly American pioneers , staged a revolt in response to government threats of expulsion and seized
528-512: A total tax basis of $ 39.8 billion. These parcels are divided into the following classifications: Geographically, the county forms a large, southward-facing peninsula, with the Pacific Ocean to the west, San Pablo Bay , and San Francisco Bay to the east, and – across the Golden Gate – the city of San Francisco to the south. Marin County's northern border is with Sonoma County . Most of
594-510: A year to guided tours of its arch and atrium design. In 1994, a new county jail facility was embedded into the hillside nearby. The United States' oldest cross country running event, the Dipsea Race , takes place annually in Marin County, attracting thousands of athletes. Modern mountain biking has many early origins on the slopes of Mount Tamalpais in Marin. San Quentin State Prison
660-614: Is a county located in the northwestern part of the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California . As of the 2020 census , the population was 262,231. Its county seat and largest city is San Rafael . Marin County is across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, and is included in the San Francisco–Oakland–Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area . Marin County's natural sites include
726-954: Is considered in the California Floristic Province , a zone of extremely high biodiversity and endemism . There are numerous ecosystems present, including Coastal Strand , oak woodland , mixed evergreen forest , and Coast Redwood Forests chaparral and riparian zones . There are also a considerable number of protected plant and animal species present: Fauna include the California red-legged frog ( Rana draytonii ) and California freshwater shrimp while flora include Marin Dwarf Flax, Hesperolinon congestum ; Tiburon Jewelflower, Streptanthus niger ; and Tiburon Indian paintbrush, Castilleja neglecta . A number of watersheds exist in Marin County, including Walker Creek , Lagunitas Creek , Miller Creek , and Novato Creek . Notably,
SECTION 10
#1732852435387792-666: Is in California's 2nd congressional district , represented by Democrat Jared Huffman . From 2008 to 2012, Huffman represented Marin County in the California State Assembly . In the California State Legislature , Marin County is in: For most of the 20th century, Marin County was a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. From 1880 until 1984, the only Democrats to win there were Woodrow Wilson , Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson . However,
858-640: Is located in the county. Thousands of years ago, Coast Miwok people first populated the area today known as Marin County. In 1770, Coast Miwok population ranged from 1,500 to 2,000, with about 600 village sites throughout the county. In 1967, the Marin Museum of the American Indian was established, with exhibits focusing on Coast Miwok artifacts, crafts, and artwork. As of 2021, Indigenous-led events include healing drumming, dogbane cordage demonstrations, trade feasts, and traditional dancing. During
924-540: Is simply an abbreviation of this name. Francis Drake and the crew of the Golden Hind was thought to have landed on the Marin coast in 1579 claiming the land as Nova Albion . A bronze plaque inscribed with Drake's claim to the new lands, fitting the description in Drake's own account, was discovered in 1933. This so-called Drake's Plate of Brass was revealed as a hoax in 2003. In 1595, Sebastian Cermeno lost his ship,
990-400: The 2020 presidential election . Marin has voted for many gubernatorial candidates who went on to become high-profile national figures, including Richard Nixon , Ronald Reagan , Jerry Brown , and Dianne Feinstein . On November 4, 2008, the citizens of Marin County voted strongly against Proposition 8 , a constitutional amendment which eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry, by
1056-718: The California Gold Rush . The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo , signed in February 1848, marked the end of the Mexican–American War. By the terms of the treaty, Mexico formally ceded Alta California along with its other northern territories east through Texas , receiving US$ 15,000,000 (equivalent to $ 528,230,769 in 2023) in exchange. This largely unsettled territory constituted nearly half of its claimed territory with about 1% of its then population of about 4,500,000. The conquest and California officially becoming part of
1122-731: The Colorado River at the present-day California border after a grueling march across the province of Santa Fe de Nuevo México and the Sonoran Desert . Then, on December 6, they fought in the botched half-hour Battle of San Pasqual east of San Diego pueblo. 21 of Kearny's troops were killed in the botched engagement, the largest number of American casualties in the battles of the California Campaign. Stockton rescued Kearny's surrounded forces and, with their combined force totaling 660 troops, they moved northward from San Diego , entering
1188-798: The Conquest of Alta California or the California Campaign , was a military campaign of the Mexican–American War carried out by the United States in Alta California (modern-day California ), then a part of Mexico. The conquest lasted from 1846 into 1847, until military leaders from both the Californios and Americans signed the Treaty of Cahuenga , which ended the conflict in California. When war
1254-559: The Golden Gate on December 27: "...we came to anchor near the mouth of the bay, under a high and beautifully sloping hill, upon which herds of hundreds and hundreds of red deer [note: "red deer" is the European term for "elk"], and the stag, with his high branching antlers, were bounding about...," although it is not clear whether this was the Marin side or the San Francisco side. The 2010 United States Census reported that Marin County had
1320-477: The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation , a female in Marin County could expect to live 85.0 years, the longest for any county in the United States. The national average is 80.8 years for a female. According to the 2010 United States Census , the racial composition of Marin County was as follows: According to the 2006–2008 American Community Survey (ACS), 81.3% of Marin County's residents were born in
1386-651: The Loo Choo arrived on March 26, 1847, 183 days after leaving New York. The Brutus finally arrived on April 17. After desertions and deaths in transit the four ships brought 648 men to California. The companies were then deployed throughout Upper Alta California and Lower Baja California on the Baja California Peninsula (captured by the Navy and later returned to Mexico), from San Francisco to La Paz . The ship Isabella sailed from Philadelphia on August 16, 1846, with
SECTION 20
#17328524353871452-599: The Los Angeles Basin on January 8, 1847. On that day they fought the Californios in the Battle of Rio San Gabriel and the next day in the Battle of La Mesa . The last significant body of Californios surrendered to American forces on January 12, marking the end of hostilities in Alta California. The Treaty of Cahuenga was signed on January 13, 1847, and essentially terminated hostilities in Alta California. The treaty
1518-611: The Mexican-American war , areas of Marin County were seized by Americans as part of the conquest of California (1846–1847). Marin County is one of the original 27 counties of California, created February 18, 1850, following adoption of the California Constitution of 1849 and just months before the state was admitted to the Union. According to General Mariano Vallejo , who headed an 1850 committee to name California's counties,
1584-702: The Muir Woods redwood forest, the Marin Headlands , Stinson Beach , the Point Reyes National Seashore , and Mount Tamalpais . Marin is one of the highest-income counties by per capita income and median household income. The county is governed by the Marin County Board of Supervisors . The Marin County Civic Center was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and draws thousands of visitors
1650-561: The Pueblo of Los Angeles before the arrival of American forces. On August 13, 1846, when Stockton's forces entered Los Angeles with no resistance, the nearly bloodless conquest of California seemed complete. The force of 36 that Stockton left in Los Angeles was too small, and enforced a tyrannical control of the citizenry. On September 29, in the Siege of Los Angeles , the independent Californios , under
1716-582: The San Agustin , while exploring the Marin Coast. The Spanish explorer Vizcaíno landed about twenty years after Drake in what is now called Drakes Bay . However the first Spanish settlement in Marin was not established until 1817 when Mission San Rafael Arcángel was founded partly in response to the Russian-built Fort Ross to the north in what is now Sonoma County . Mission San Rafael Arcángel
1782-511: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 828 square miles (2,140 km ), of which 520 square miles (1,300 km ) is land and 308 square miles (800 km ), comprising 37.2%, is water. It is the fourth-smallest county in California by land area. According to the records at the County Assessor-Recorder's Office , as of June 2006, Marin had 91,065 acres (369 km ) of taxable land, consisting of 79,086 parcels with
1848-718: The unincorporated community of Alto , almost all of Strawberry , and portions of the unincorporated communities of Muir Beach and Tamalpais-Homestead Valley . It also includes the community of Almonte. Graduates of the middle school usually attend Tamalpais High School , which is part of the Tamalpais Union High School District . The District is within the boundaries of the Marin Community College District . Marin County, California Marin County ( / m ə ˈ r ɪ n / mə- RIN ; Spanish : Condado de Marín )
1914-545: The 1980s. Fifty percent of historical salmon habitat is now behind dams. Strong efforts are also being made to protect and restore undammed, headwater reaches of this Watershed in the San Geronimo Valley , where upwards of 40% of the Lagunitas salmon spawn each year and where as much as 1/3 of the juvenile salmon (or fry) spend their entire freshwater lives. The "Salmon Protection and Watershed Network" leads winter tours for
1980-619: The 19th century. The California State Legislature had been discussing legislation for forest-fire suppression as early as 1881, but the formal department did not come into being until approximately 1901. The Marin County Fire Department came into existence in its current incarnation on July 1, 1941, with passage of an ordinance and two resolutions by the Board of Supervisors. In the United States House of Representatives , Marin County
2046-403: The 2006–2008 ACS, English was the most commonly spoken language at home by residents over five years of age; those who spoke only English at home made up 77.1% of Marin County's residents. Speakers of non-English languages accounted for the remaining 22.9% of the population. Speakers of Spanish made up 11.7% of the county's residents, while speakers of other Indo-European languages made up 7.1% of
Mill Valley School District - Misplaced Pages Continue
2112-585: The Lagunitas Creek Watershed is home to the largest remaining wild run of coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ) in Central California. These coho are part of the "Central California Coast Evolutionarily Significant Unit, " or CCC ESU, and are listed as "endangered" at both the state and federal level. Significant efforts to protect and restore these fish have been underway in the Watershed since
2178-508: The Monterey harbor, the USS ; Savannah , USS Cyane , and USS Levant , captured the Alta Californian capital city in the Battle of Monterey on July 7, 1846, without firing a shot. Two days later on July 9, USS Portsmouth , which had been berthed at Sausalito , captured Yerba Buena (present-day San Francisco ) in the Battle of Yerba Buena , again without firing
2244-630: The Sandwich Islands and on the Pacific coast. Their orders were, upon determining "beyond a doubt" that war had been declared, to capture the ports and cities of Alta California. Commodore John Drake Sloat , commander of the Pacific Squadron, on being informed of an outbreak of hostilities between Mexico and the United States, as well as the Bear Flag Revolt in Sonoma, ordered his naval forces to occupy ports in northern Alta California. Sloat's ships already in
2310-566: The Spanish and then Mexican governors with an average of about 18,900 acres (76 km ) each. Most of the approximately 800 American and other immigrants were primarily adult males, and lived in the northern half of California. They approved of breaking from the Mexican government, and gave only token or no resistance to the forces of Stockton and Frémont. In Southern California, Mexican General José Castro and Alta California Governor Pío Pico fled
2376-613: The U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers survey, to secure 100 volunteers in addition to the California Battalion he had organized earlier. He received 160, exceeding his order. The volunteers were to act primarily as occupation forces to free up Stockton's marines and sailors. The core of the California Battalion was the approximately 30 army personnel and 30 scouts, guards, ex-fur trappers, Indians, geographers , topographers and cartographers in Frémont's exploration force, which
2442-424: The U.S. occupation, the population of Spanish and Mexican people in Alta California was approximately 1500 men and 6500 women and children, who were known as Californios . Many lived in or near the small Pueblo of Los Angeles (present-day Los Angeles ). Many other Californios lived on the 455 ranchos of Alta California , which contained slightly more than 8,600,000 acres (35,000 km ), nearly all bestowed by
2508-611: The United States set off a genocide against the indigenous peoples of California . The United States federal government and the newly created state government of California incited, aided, and financed the violence against the Native Americans, including massacres, cultural genocide, and forced enslavement. On January 6, 1851, at his State of the State address to the California Senate, the first Governor Peter Burnett said: "That
2574-566: The United States. Approximately 80.0% of the county's residents were born in one of the fifty states or born abroad to American parents. Foreign-born individuals made up the remaining 18.7% of the population. Latin America was the most common birthplace of foreign-born residents; those born in Latin America made up the plurality (42.2%) of Marin County's foreign population. Individuals born in Europe were
2640-625: The brand of Republicanism prevailing in Marin County was historically a moderate one. Like most of the historically Republican suburbs of the Bay Area, it became friendlier to Democrats as the demographics of the area changed and the national party embraced social and religious conservatism. In 1984, it very narrowly voted for Walter Mondale and has supported the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since then. Out of all California counties , only San Francisco County voted more Democratic in
2706-553: The county was named for "Marin," great chief of the tribe Licatiut." Marin had been named "Huicmuse" until he was baptized as "Marino" at about age 20. Marin / Marino was born into the Huimen people, a Coast Miwok tribe of Native Americans who inhabited the San Rafael area. Vallejo believed that "Chief Marin" had waged several fierce battles against the Spanish. Marino definitely did reside at Mission Dolores (in modern San Francisco) much of
Mill Valley School District - Misplaced Pages Continue
2772-635: The county's population resides on the eastern side, with a string of communities running along U.S. Route 101 and the San Francisco Bay, from Sausalito to Tiburon to Corte Madera to San Rafael and Novato . The interior contains large areas of agricultural and open space; West Marin , through which State Route 1 runs alongside the California coast, contains many small unincorporated communities whose economies depend on agriculture and tourism. West Marin has beaches which are popular destinations for surfers and tourists year-round. Notable features of
2838-399: The county. The population density was 476 inhabitants per square mile (184/km ). There were 104,990 housing units at an average density of 202 units per square mile (78 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 84.0% White , 2.9% Black or African American , 0.4% Native American, 4.5% Asian , 0.2% Pacific Islander , 4.5% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. 11.1% of
2904-402: The east coast, around Cape Horn , to the Pacific ports in the Sandwich Islands and then the mainland west coast , these movements had to be made well in advance of any possible conflict to be effective. Initially, with no United States ports in the Pacific, the squadron's ships operated out of storeships that provided naval supplies, purchased food and obtained water from local ports of call in
2970-417: The leadership of José María Flores , forced the small American garrison to retire to the harbor. Soon afterward, 200 reinforcements sent by Stockton and led by U.S. Navy Captain William Mervine were repulsed on October 8 in the one-hour Battle of Dominguez Rancho on Rancho San Pedro , with four Americans killed. In late November, General Stephen W. Kearny , with a squadron of 100 dragoons, finally reached
3036-443: The longest single military marches in U.S. history. The Mormon Battalion arrived in San Diego on January 29, 1847. For the next five months until their discharge on July 16, 1847, in Los Angeles , the battalion trained and did garrison duties in several locations in southern California . Discharged members of the Mormon Battalion were helping to build a sawmill for John Sutter when gold was discovered there in January 1848, starting
3102-404: The male death row and the execution chamber of California . The Marin County Sheriff's Office serves as the county's main law enforcement agency. The Central Marin Police Authority is responsible for law enforcement in Larkspur , Corte Madera , and San Anselmo . The first formal fire department in what is now Marin County was The Tamalpais Forestry Association, formed around the turn of
3168-427: The median income for a family was $ 88,934. As of 2007, these figures had risen to $ 83,732 and $ 104,750. In May 2010, the county had the lowest unemployment rate in California . According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, however, in July 2010, Marin's unemployment rate rose to 8.3%. San Quentin State Prison of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is in the county. San Quentin houses
3234-449: The migration from their spawning grounds in the Lagunitas Creek area to the Pacific Ocean. This increase in migration was significantly up from the previous historic record for the same migration measured in 2006 at 11,000. In 2010, all of the county's beaches were listed as the cleanest in the state. When Richard Henry Dana Jr. visited San Francisco Bay in 1835, he wrote about vast tule elk ( Cervus canadensis nannodes ) herds near
3300-472: The pipeline continued to dribble into California. The Mormon Battalion served from July 1846 to July 1847 during the Mexican–American War. The battalion was a volunteer unit of between 534 and 559 Latter-day Saints men, who were led by Mormon company officers and commanded by regular United States Army senior officers. During its service, the battalion made a grueling march of some 1,900 miles from Council Bluffs, Iowa to San Diego . This remains one of
3366-399: The populace. Speakers of Asian languages and indigenous languages of the Pacific islands made up 3.4% of the population. The remaining 0.7% spoke other languages. Source: According to the 2007–2009 ACS, there were 16 ancestries in Marin County that made up over 0.9% of its population each. The 16 ancestries are listed below: The median income for a household in the county was $ 71,306 and
SECTION 50
#17328524353873432-441: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2000, there were 100,650 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
3498-498: The public to learn about and view these spawning salmon, and also leads year-round opportunities for the public to get involved in stream restoration, monitoring spawning and smolt outmigration, juvenile fish rescue and relocation in the summer, and advocacy and policy development. Around 490 different species of birds have been observed in Marin County. Despite the lack of rain in the Marin County area due to historic drought levels, in 2014, an estimated 20,000 juvenile Coho salmon made
3564-403: The second largest foreign-born group; they made up 25.3% of Marin County's foreign population. Immigrants from Asia made up 23.7% of the county's foreign population. Those born in other parts of North America and Africa made up 3.9% and 3.8% of the foreign-born populace respectively. Lastly, residents born in Oceania made up a mere 1.2% of Marin County's foreign population. Source: According to
3630-599: The shoreline along the San Francisco Bay include the Sausalito shoreline, Richardson Bay , the Tiburon Peninsula , Ring Mountain , and Triangle Marsh at Corte Madera . Further north lies San Quentin State Prison along the San Rafael shoreline. The Marin County Department of Parks and Open Space manages numerous county parks and open spaces, including Stafford Lake County Park . The Marin Municipal Water District has 130 mi (209 km) of trails. Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems: Marin County
3696-484: The sloop USS Preble was assigned convoy detail. On September 26 the four ships sailed for California. Fifty men who had been left behind for various reasons sailed on November 13, 1846, on the small storeship USS Brutus . The Susan Drew and Loo Choo reached Valparaíso , Chile by January 20, 1847, and they were on their way again by January 23. The Perkins did not stop until San Francisco, reaching port on March 6, 1847. The Susan Drew arrived on March 20 and
3762-410: The small Mexican Sonoma Barracks garrison, in the pueblo of Sonoma north of San Francisco Bay . There they formed the California Republic , created the " Bear Flag ", and raised it over Sonoma. Eleven days later, troops led by Frémont, who had acted on his own authority, arrived from Sutter's Fort to support the rebels. No government was ever organized, but the Bear Flag Revolt has become part of
3828-428: The state's folklore. The present-day California state flag is based on this original Bear Flag, and continues to display the words "California Republic." Prior to the Mexican–American War, preparations for a possible conflict led to the U.S. Pacific Squadron being extensively reinforced until it had roughly half of the ships in the United States Navy . Since it took 120 to over 200 days to sail from Atlantic ports on
3894-465: The time from his 1801 baptism and marriage until 1817, frequently serving as a baptism witness and godfather; he may have escaped and been recaptured at some point during that time. Starting in 1817, he served as an alcalde (in effect, an overseer) at the San Rafael Mission, where he lived from 1817 off and on until his death. In 1821, Marino served as an expedition guide for the Spanish for a couple of years before escaping and hiding out for some months in
3960-477: The tiny Marin Islands (also named after him); his recapture resulted in a yearlong incarceration at the Presidio before his return to the Mission San Rafael area for about 15 years until his death in 1839. In 2009, a plaque commemorating Chief Marin was placed in Mill Valley. Another version of the origin of the county name is that the bay between San Pedro Point and San Quentin Point was named Bahía de Nuestra Señora del Rosario la Marinera in 1775, and that Marin
4026-432: Was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.90. In the county, 20.3% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males. According to the most recent data on U.S. life expectancy, published in 2010 by
SECTION 60
#17328524353874092-468: Was asked to raise a volunteer regiment of ten companies of 77 men each to go to California with the understanding that they would muster out and stay in California. They were designated the 1st Regiment of New York Volunteers and took part in the Pacific Coast Campaign . In August and September 1846 the regiment trained and prepared for the trip to California. Three private merchant ships, Thomas H Perkins , Loo Choo , and Susan Drew , were chartered, and
4158-504: Was declared on May 13, 1846, between the United States and Mexico, it took almost three months for definitive word of Congress' declaration of war to reach the Pacific coast. U.S. consul Thomas O. Larkin , stationed in the pueblo of Monterey , was concerned about the increasing possibility of war and worked to prevent bloodshed between the Americans and the small Mexican military garrison at the Presidio of Monterey , commanded by José Castro . United States Army Captain John C. Frémont , on
4224-402: Was drafted in English and Spanish by José Antonio Carrillo and approved by American Brigadier General John C. Frémont and Californio General Andrés Pico at Campo de Cahuenga in the Cahuenga Pass of Los Angeles. It was later ratified by Frémont's superiors, Commodore Robert F. Stockton and General Stephen Kearny (brevet rank). In July 1846, Colonel Jonathan D. Stevenson of New York
4290-426: Was founded in what is now downtown San Rafael as the 20th Spanish mission in the colonial Mexican province of Alta California by four priests, Father Narciso Duran from Mission San Jose , Father Abella from Mission San Francisco de Asís , Father Gil y Taboada and Father Mariano Payeras , the President of the Missions, on December 14, 1817, four years before Mexico gained independence from Spain. According to
4356-453: Was joined by about 150 Bear Flaggers. The American marines, sailors, and militia easily took over the cities and ports of northern California; within days they controlled Monterey , San Francisco , Sonoma , Sutter's Fort , New Helvetia , and other small pueblos in northern Alta California. Nearly all were occupied without a shot being fired. Some of the southern pueblos and ports were also rapidly occupied, with almost no bloodshed. Prior to
#386613