1542 - Cabrillo Expedition
1769 - The Portola Expedition
1771 - Mission San Gabriel Founded
1776 - Declaration of Independence
1779 - Mission San Fernando Founded
1781 - Los Angeles Founded
1801 - Pio Pico Born
1821 - Mexican Independence
From 1781 to 1821, Los Angeles was a small, remote outpost in the Spanish Empire.
The site of the city was chosen because of the presence of year-round water in the local river. The earliest city is situated roughly where Olivera Street / the plaza is today, on a slight bluff to protect against the occasional winter-floods.
Poor harbor - so there was no early attraction to the coast.
Nearby missions at San Gabriel and San Fernando struggled to convert local natives to Catholicism and to remain economically viable.
Although the climate, soils and water supplies were adequate for self-sufficiency, the distance to markets in the US or New Spain (Mexico) made profitable export economy difficult.
Hides and tallow were the only significant export.
The Avila Adobe was built in 1818 and is a worthwhile stop for anyone visiting Olvera Street in the oldest part of Los Angeles.
Notes:
1542 - Cabrillo - Bay of Smokes...probably never really landed in LA...
From video: Roots of El Pueblo: The BEginning of Los angeles.
1781, 44 Pobladores set out from New Spain, which is today Mexico to make the journey
Jean Bruce Poole: 26 of the 44 original inhabitants of LA were partially or fully of African descent.
Mission “Under the Bell”
Tongva Indians
Some became laborers in local households.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Iglesia_de_Nuestra_Se%C3%B1ora_la_Reina_de_los_%C3%81ngeles
La Placita - the peublo church - 1000 residents at end of Spanish Era
Our Lady Queen of Angels - NOT a mission church, but a public church - the center of public life in early Los Angeles.
Olvera Street
1818 Don Francisco Avila - house - museum depicting life in the mid 1800s now.
Anglo first arrives in 1818… Joseph Chapman - became Catholic and learned spanish.