Villa de Branciforte

The Villa de Branciforte was established in 1797, one of three Spanish civilian pueblos in what is now the US state of California. The word villa in the name indicates that it was designated as a settlement for retired soldiers (invalidos). However, the first group of colonists were men from Guadalajara who chose to emigrate rather than serve jail terms for various minor offences. Six invalidos arrived a year later.

• Leon Rowland, Santa Cruz: The Early Years (1980), p.34-36.