History of Laguna Niguel
The name “Laguna Niguel” is derived from the Spanish word “Laguna,” which means lagoon, and the word “Niguel,” which was from the name of a Juaneno Indian village “Nigueli” once located near Aliso Creek 10,000 year ago.
In 1842, Juan Avila obtained a Mexican land grant for the property officially known as “El Rancho de Los Alisos”, of Rancho Niguel. He became the first private landowner in present-day Laguna Niguel. He ranched Sheep and cattle on the native grasses and shrubs that grew on the hills, in the valleys, and along the creek beds.
Rancho Niguel encompassed over 13,000 acres of land. Juan Aila was one of the first ranchers to drive his cattle to the gold camps during the California Gold Rush. In 1895, Juan Avila sold Rancho Niguel in several parcels that were later acquired by Lewis Moulton. In 1959, Laguna Niguel Corporation by Cabot, Cabot, and Forbes firstly planed the Laguna Niguel community. Avco Company Develop acquired the Laguna Niguel Plan in 1971 and initiated the development in the original Master Plan. Following the first master-owned plan, over one-third of Laguna Niguel is designated as open space. This significant amount of open space is one of the key features defining the character and urban form of the City.
During the construction of the Laguna Niguel community, a lot of significant fossils were found, such as several Baleen Whales fossils, a huge jaw of a megalodon, a Pecten, a Smilodon, and a Petrified Wood. These animals lived in Laguna Niguel 17-1.6 million years ago. That means Laguna Niguel was once an ocean floor around 10 millions of years ago.
The giant Pecten (Scallop) fossil was found in the Topanga Formation and unearthed during an excavation in the San Joaquin Hills. The Topanga Formation is the oldest Formation to be exposed in the City of Laguna Niguel. Scientists estimate the Pecten to be approximately 12-14 million years ago. It is highly unusual to find a scallop of this size along the California shoreline today.
The skull of Mixoctus baleen whale fossil was discovered during grading of Plaza de La Paz in 1995. It is only the second example of the Spices known to science. The first was found in Los Angeles in 1931. Mixocetus was one of the largest marine animals to inhabit this area in the Miocene Epoch 10-12 million years ago. It grew to about 35 feet and fed on small fish which is caught in brush-like baleen plates. The blue whale is the largest of the baleen whale species and reaches an average length of 75 to 80 feet.
The huge jaw of the megalodon fossil can tell many things about this ancient shark. Caracharocles megalodon lived from Miocene to Pliocene periods (17 to 3 million years ago), which is now extinct, fed primarily on small whales. Its length is estimated to about 50 feet and referring to the modern white shark lineage. They may lose thousands of teeth in their lifetime.
Saber-toothed cat (Smilodon fatalis) fossil indicates that large numbers of these cats inhabit Southern California for thousands of years. Scientists estimate that these great cats first appeared in North and South America about 1.6 million years ago and became extinct approximately 11,000 years ago. These predatory cats were similar to the size of an African lion but were more robust inbuilt. It ranged in weight from about 350 to 615 pounds and height from about 37 to 39 inches. On September 25, 1973, Governor signed into law Bill No. 940 designating the saber-toothed cat (Smilodon californicus) the Official State Fossil of California.
Today, Laguna Niguel is known for its natural beauty, green rolling hills, and breathtaking valley and ocean views. There was a variety of plants and wildlife that thrived in the dry Mediterranean climate. Botanica preserve, which sits behind the Laguna Niguel Community Center and modern Open Theater built by stone, has rare plants like sea lily and agave, etc. It has a total of 2,000 kinds of plants. It also has animals like rattlesnakes and eagles. Laguna Niguel becomes the 29th city in Orange County in 1989. The diverse cultural groups live in the Laguna Niguel community now.
Laguna Niguel is a long pre-historical and interesting city, it is also a naturally beautiful city in southern California.
Photos of plants and building on Botanic Preserve of Laguna Niguel.
