Encinitas California sits on the coastline of the Pacific Ocean. To the north of Encinitas, there is Batiquitos Lagoon and the San Elijo Lagoon to the south. The first people living in the area of modern Encinitas, CA were Native Americans tribes, the San Dieguitos, the La Jollans, and the Dieguenos. Diegueno’s group were mission converts who wanted to build the Spanish Missions. In the year 1669, the Governor of Baja California, Gaspar de Portola, was traveling throughout the San Diego and Monterey in California area. His plan was to build so-called presidios, where the population could learn and attend religious service. De Portola and his expedition were traversing across our land and he named this area Encina Canada, Spanish for “Hills of live oak”, later shortened to Encinitas.
Encinitas was governed by Mexico after the year 1800, and the Mexican government issued land grants to ranchers who would be willing to be under Mexico’s rule.
In 1881, Jabez Pitcher came to Encinitas and many people consider him to be the father of the town. Pitcher came to San Diego and filed a claim for 160 acres on a mesa near the railroad tracks where the today Encinitas Civic Center is now located. In the year 1870, north of the railroad tracks, English spiritualists named their settlement Leucadia. The name means “Isle of Paradise” or “Place of Shelter” and is based upon Greek Island The five-acre tracts were named after Greek gods and myths.
The modern history of “Cardiff” started in the year 1875 when the McKinnon family populated the north shore of the San Elijo Lagoon. In the year 1909, J. Frank Cullen bought a big part in San Elijo, had it surveyed, and established streets and lots. He named his town in 1914, and called it “Cardiff-by-the-Sea,” after Cardiff, Wales, the part of United Kingdom. The “Olivenhain” portion of Encinitas was established as a community in 1884 by a small group of immigrants that came from Germany. The old Olivenhain Meeting Hall is still used today for social events and meetings.
The City of Encinitas California was founded around 100 years ago and today consists of five communities that take pride in their own distinct personalities. “Historic Encinitas” occupies the Highway 101 Corridor that parallels the beautiful beaches and ocean. “New Encinitas” centers on El Camino Real. “Cardiff-by-the-Sea” is made up of quaint homes dotting the hillsides overlooking the sea. “Leucadia” is famous for its giant eucalyptus trees that line the main thoroughfare on the Coast Highway. “Olivenhain” (which means “olive grove” in German) boasts plenty of open horse country, pastures, and a rural way of life.
Harvest time. June 9th, 1935. Herman Bumann cutting barley with 1899 or 1900 McCormick Daisy Reaper.
If you’re a fan of early Encinitas history, and if you take advantage of the upcoming chance to travel back in time over 100 years, you will discover a visit to the Bumann Ranch off Lone Jack Road in Olivenhain will give you an unprecedented live view through a window into the past. The Bumann Ranch is special because it has been preserved and unchanged by time making it truly unique to all of North County San Diego as a living tribute like no other, to the earliest days of our Encinitas heritage. Continue reading this story and you’ll learn how you can make this visit.
Today the Bumann Ranch is the home of Richard and Adeline Bumann, but the story begins in October of 1884 when the original Olivenhain Colony founders purchased a 4,431 acre former Mexican Ranch called Rancho Las Encinitas. One month later the first colonists arrived including Herman Bumann, his father Fredrick, and his uncle John Bumann. Herman remained with the colony for about one year, but due to problems within the colony, which caused it’s quick demise, and with the support of his new friend Adam Wiegand, and with the encouragement of his uncle John Bumann, Herman negotiated the purchase of a 160 acre homestead claim close by for $50.
Herman supported himself in those early years doing work for other nearby ranches, and as far off as Rancho Guejito located 20 miles to the northeast on the eastern edge of Escondido. He would return to the homestead on weekends to make improvements, living in a 10×12 foot shanty that he built. His shanty is still intact on the property today.One of the biggest challenges for ranching and farming in the area was access to water. Fortunately for Herman, Escondido Creek bisected the property. Though it took several years of non-stop hard work and improvements, the homestead became increasingly self-sustaining. Herman built a 14×20 foot barn, cleared, plowed and planted crop fields, purchased two work horses and several cows
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