Orange County Almanac
In the mid-1800s, when Mexico ruled what is now Orange County, there were 20 large ranchos within the area.
The southernmost rancho of that era was in the Capistrano Beach area. It was called Rancho Boca de la Playa (mouth of the beach) and consisted of 6,600 acres.
Mexican Gov. Pio Pico in 1846 granted the lands of the rancho to Emigdio Vejar, who was a justice of the peace in San Juan Capistrano. In 1869, Vejar sold the rancho to Juan Avila, and eventually the land became the property of Juan Forster, an Englishman who became a Mexican citizen and who owned huge tracts of land in Southern California.
Today
Youngsters can learn about “piggyback animals” at Oak Canyon Nature Center on Walnut Canyon Road in Anaheim Hills.
The center is offering a workshop for children ages 2 to 4 on how animals use their pouches, fur, feet and mouths to carry their babies.
The workshop begins at 10 a.m. at the center, 6700 E. Walnut Canyon Road.
There is a fee of $3 per person.
Information: (714) 998-8380.
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