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BACKGROUND
The entire area comprising William S. Hart Park initially
became the property of the King of Spain upon the occupation of
California by Gaspar de Portala in 1769. The property became
Mexican territory in 1822, when Mexico became independent of
Spain and occupied California. 1
On 22 January 1839, a tract of some 48,611 acres, including
the future Hart property, was granted to Antonio Del Valle as
part of the Rancho San Francisco. After the American acquisition
of California as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in
1848, the Del Valle title to the ranch was confirmed in 1851.
The future Hart property was acquired by Henry M. Newhall in
1875, and in 1883, his heirs granted their holdings to the
Newhal l Land and Farming Company, which owned most of the land in
the area until various parcels were sold to individuals after
1900.
2
