Ranchos

Rancho Canada de los Vaqueros

Rancho Cañada de los Vaqueros was a 17,760-acre Mexican land grant mostly in present day Contra Costa County, California, but partially in Alameda County, California. It was given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Antonio Higuera, Francisco Alviso and Manuel Miranda.The name means "Canyon of the Cowboys" in Spanish.

Rancho Los Medanos

Rancho Los Medanos (from the Spanish: Rancho Los Medaños meaning Sand Dunes Ranch) was a 8,859-acre Mexican land grant in present day Contra Costa County, California. It was given in 1839 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Jose Antonio Mesa and Jose Miguel Garcia.

The name "los medanos" is derived from the sand hills located along the San Joaquin River on its northern boundary. Rancho Los Medanos was located at the junction of the San Joaquin River and the Sacramento River, extending eastward along the south shore of Suisun Bay to Antioch. The rancho lands included present day Antioch and Pittsburg.