Why Do Many Cities And Towns In California Have Spanish Names?

1. 80

   ngurecoposted 14 years ago

   Why Do Many Cities And Towns In California Have Spanish Names?

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2. 61

   Luciendaskyposted 14 years ago

   Parts of California was colonized by the Spanish Empire in the late18th Century, giving many of the towns Spanish names.

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   Pachuca213posted 14 years ago

   Is this a joke?  California was part of Mexico at one time and most of all the parts of California had their Spanish names given by the people who held the land including the Spanish Priests and Missionaries who set up residence in the Missions throughout California to teach Catholicism to the Native Americans. ( example: Los Angeles was once called "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles". It was not until later when California became part of the United States that some areas changed their names but alot of places kept their original names....

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4. 82

   Senoritaaposted 14 years ago

   I am gonna have to agree with Pachuca213. California was a part of Mexico.

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   Mark Upshawposted 13 years ago

   California was Mexican land until the US took it and then paid pennies to feel better about it.  But Mexico did not develop it or defend it very well because it was so distant from Mexico City and they had to few people to settle the territory well when the gold rush broke out.  Which is when the US government decided to make it a state of the US and not a state of the Mexican government any longer on 9/9/1850.

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6. 63

   Globetrekkermelposted 11 years ago

   California used to be a part of Mexico and a lot has to do with immigration of the Spaniards and created the famous California missions.

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   Say Yes To Lifeposted 11 years ago

   Because California, like Mexico, was colonized by the Spanish.  The city names that begin with "San" and "Santa" were named after saints, "San" being male, and "Santa" being female (not to be confused with Santa Claus, who is German).  Many missions were established in these towns, as well.

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