The following timeline traces the territorial evolution of California, the thirty-first state admitted to the United States of America, including the process of removing Indigenous Peoples from their native lands, or restricting them to reservations.
Timeline
Indigenous & territorial claims prior to 1768
Indigenous peoples of California, see Before 1768 map
Broad early European edicts and treaties that unknowingly included the land that would later become California Inter caetera papal bull issued by Pope Alexander VI, 1493 Treaty of Tordesillas, 1494 Vasco Núñez de Balboa claims South Sea (Pacific Ocean) and all adjoining lands for Spain, 1513 Treaty of Saragossa, 1529 Early European claims on California soil Rio de Buen Guia (Colorado River) claim made by Hernando de Alarcon on behalf of Spain, September 1540 Rio de Tizon Delta (Imperial Valley) claim made by Melchor Diaz on behalf of Spain, December 1540. San Miguel (San Diego) claim made by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo on behalf of Spain, 1542 New Albion ( Point Reyes) claim made by Sir Francis Drake on behalf of England, 1579 Rio Colorado (Colorado River) claim made by Juan de Onate on behalf of Spain, January 1605 Rio Colorado (Yuma Crossing) claim made by Eusebio Kino on behalf of Spain, 1701
Spanish period (1768–1821) Las Californias claimed by Spain under the governance of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, 1768–1804 Portolá-Crespí Expedition 1769–1771, Discovers Most of California Coast from San Diego to San Francisco, Claims Land for Spain. Pedro Fages 1st Expedition 1770 Discovers East San Fransico Bay, Salinas Valley & Santa Clara Valley. Pedro Fages 2nd Expedition 1772 Discovers San Joaquin Valley, Old Tejon Pass, & Antelope Valley. Juan Bautista de Anza Expeditions 1774; 1775 Brings settlers to California to settle Coastal Areas in the name of Spain. Juan de Ayala Naval Expedition 1775. First to sail past Golden Gate and discover San Francisco Bay. Francisco Garcés Expedition 1776 Discovers Mojave Desert, Cajon Pass, & San Bernardino Valley. Explores Old Tejon Pass, & Tulare Lake Basin. Pedro Fages Expedition in 1781 was Sent to put down Yuma Indian rebellion in the Colorado River but lost control of the area to Indians, essentially closing the main overroute trail connection from Alta California to Mexico. Hermenegildo Sal Expedition 1796 Explores San Joaquin Valley around the current Stockton area Spanish missions in California, 1769–1833 Relocation of Mission Indians, 1769–1834 Spanish rancho land grants, 1769–1821 Peace of Paris, 1783 Alta California Province established, 1804–1821 Friar Juan Martin Expedition 1804, Explores the southern Central Valley Region for new mission sites. Visits Salinan Tco'alam Village which he names Cholam Village Friar Juan Martin Expedition 1805, Explores Lake Tulare Region for new mission sites. Visits Yokut Wowal Village which he names Bubal Village José María de Zalvidea Expedition 1806, Scouting for new Mission sites from Santa Barbara Mission to San Gabriel Mission. Lt. Francisco María Ruiz Expedition 1806, Explores route from Sonora to Central Valley via Old Tejon Pass, Discovers Cãnada de las Uvas (Tejon Pass) which opens a new route to Mission San Fernando. Gabriel Moraga Expedition 1806, Discovers Sierra Nevada Foothills and it's Rivers. Explores Tulare region, and Kern River Wilderness. Friar Francisco Dumetz Expedition 1810, Discovers San Bernardino Valley. Fort Ross established by the Russian-American Company, 1812–1842 Northern California coast claimed by Ivan Kuskov on behalf of Russia, 1812 Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 Mexican War of Independence, 1808–1821 Monterey, California held by Hippolyte Bouchard on behalf of Argentina (6 days), 1818 Treaty of Córdoba signed August 21, 1821