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Laguna Niguel's landscape was created millions
of years ago by a geologic event that transformed a shallow bay area into
the hills and canyons of today.
Its first inhabitants were the Native Americans, with the word "Nigueli"
from that of an Juaneno Indian village along the Aliso Creek.
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With the arrival of the Spanish in
1769, Indian culture was supplanted by the Spanish who established missions
along the coastal areas.
In 1782 California became part of Mexico and a system of Spanish land grants
was established. |
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On June 21, 1842, Juan Avila received
a land grant from the Spanish government for Rancho Niguel, used primarily
as a sheep ranch.
With the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, California was ceded to the
United States. The property passed from Juan Avila to Juan Forster to Marco
Forster to Lewis Moulton who obtained it in 1895 and renamed the area the
Moulton Niguel Ranch. |
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Image of Aliso Creek courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Images of Laguna Niguel and Laguna Niguel Lake used with permission of the City of Laguna Niguel. |
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