PUB00109 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The Los Angeles and Southern California Area City of Los Angeles The City of Los Angeles, which was founded on September 4, 1781, began its history as a Spanish pueblo. Dramatic population increases are nothing new to Los Angeles. In 1790, the population of Los Angeles was 139. It grew to 315 by 1800, to 365 by 1810, and to 1,610 by 1850. By 1877, the Los Angeles population was 9,000, and its domestic water supply was taken from an open ditch in which laundry was beaten against rocks and children swam. Early development in Los Angeles took place near reliable water supplies, and the plaza and old town of Los Angeles were located in such areas. Throughout the 19th century, the Los Angeles River was a reliable source of water. During the period of Mexican rule, ranchos were located on every perennial spring or stream throughout the basin. Because these spring-fed streams provided the only depend- able water supply. irrigation in the area was very limited. As of 1879, only 8,400 acres were under irrigation, and the area suffered seriously from a lack of water. Until 1870, most of Southern California was still included in huge ranchos, and grazing was virtually the sole economic activity. However, by the mid-1870s, the vagaries of the region's water sup- ply had virtually eliminated the ranchos. In 1856-57,100,000 head of cattle were lost in Los Angeles County because of drought, and between 1862 and 1864 even larger numbers of cattle were lost. Sheep used to replace cattle were also depleted by drought. Rancho Centinella alone lost 22,000 sheep in 187715 Citrus cuitivation began in Southern California around 1854, and by 1862 the state had 25,000 orange trees. Large-scale citrus development began in Southern California after the navel orange was introduced from Brazil in 1873. In fact, the parent navel orange tree is located and still alive in Riverside. Huge financial returns from citrus growing provided the impetus for developing the re- gion's water supply. But, because the region's surface supply was rapidly over appropriated, residents had to turn to groundwater. Although artesian wells were initially available, after water tables began to drop, pumped wells were used. The dramatic drop in the water table is illustrated by U.S. Geological Survey statistics, which indicate that Southern California had 2,500 artesian wells in 1900, but only 22 by 1930. 15 The Metropolitan "Vater District. History and First Annual Report. 1939, pages 10-11. 12-13,17-18. The original pueblo of Los Angeles was located where the Los Angeles River rose to the surface to provide a dependable water supply. Chapter 1 A Brief History 11