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(((Buyers Agent, for listing information click here.))) |
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| Rio Vista, California was founded in 1844
when General John Bidwell, a citizen of Mexico, petitioned for a land grant
on the Sacramento River from Governor Micheltorena. The subsequent Los
Ulpinos Land Grant included 17,724 acres. The 1848 gold discovery made a
wharf necessary to handle the amount of supplies brought in
by river-steamer. The Mexican government had signed California over to the United States in 1848, and Colonel N.H. Davis bought land from Bidwell for $2,000 on December 3, 1855. By 1857 Davis had chosen a site for a town one mile below the mouth of Cache Slough. He named the town Los Brazos Del Rio or "The Arms of the River," because the Sacramento River forms at the town's location. In 1858 Colonel Davis was the first to build his home in the new town. Many structures were built -- the storehouse, butcher shop, hotel, blacksmith shop, general store, drug store and livery stable. In 1860 the name of the town was changed to Rio Vista or "Riverview." In the winter of 1861 a rainstorm lasting forty days washed Rio Vista completely away. The town's people escaped with their lives but lost all they owned. It was decided to rebuild on high ground. This became possible with the generous donations of land from two ranchers. Mr. Joseph Bruning and Mr. T. J. McWorthy. The town was moved to its present location and rebuilding took place in 1862. People came to Rio Vista from all parts of the world and many walks of life. Many came to farm the open land. The land once believed to be agriculturally poor proved to be rich. In addition, natural gas in abundance was found at a depth of 4,000 feet. The Rio Vista Gas Field is the largest dry gas reserve in California. The town sits almost on top of it. |
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