Mendocino Indian Reservation

1869 map of the Mendocino Indian Reservation

Mendocino Indian Reservation, a former Indian reservation in Mendocino County, one of the early Indian reservations to be established in California by the federal government for the resettlement of California Indians. It was established in the spring of 1856, in the vicinity of modern Noyo. Its area was 25,000 acres (100 km2) and its boundary extended north from what is now Simpson Lane at 39°24′43″N 123°48′30″W﻿ / ﻿39.41194°N 123.80833°W﻿ / 39.41194; -123.80833 to Abalobadiah Creek and east from the Pacific Ocean to a north–south line passing through the summit of Bald Hill.[1]

## History

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Mendocino Indian Reservation circa 1856-1866

The area of the reservation was home to Native Americans, most of whom belonged to the Pomo tribe. They were hunter-gatherers who lived along the northern coast of California. In 1855 an exploration party from the Bureau of Indian Affairs visited the area looking for a site on which to establish a reservation and, in the spring of 1856, the Mendocino Indian Reservation was established at Noyo.[1]

Yuki, (Ukiah or Yokiah), Wappo, Pomo, Salan Pomo, Southern Pomo(Kianamaras or Gallinomero), Whilkut (Redwood) and others lived on this reservation.

In the summer of 1857, First Lieutenant Horatio G. Gibson, then serving at the Presidio of San Francisco, was ordered to take Company M, 3rd Regiment of Artillery to establish a military post one and one-half miles north of the Noyo River on the Mendocino Indian Reservation. The official date of the establishment of Fort Bragg was June 11, 1857. Its purpose was to maintain order on the reservation, and subjugate the Indians and reservation lands.

In January 1859 Gibson and Company M, 3rd Regiment of Artillery left Fort Bragg to be replaced by Company D, 6th Infantry Regiment. They stayed for two years and continued to build up the post.

Following the 1858–1859 Wintoon War, the defeated Whilkut people were sent to the Mendocino Indian Reservation. Over the next year they deserted the reservation to return to their homeland in the Bald Hills and the escalating hostilities of the Bald Hills War.[2]

In June 1862, federal troops had been withdrawn to the East to fight in the American Civil War, being replaced by Company D, 2nd California Infantry, that was ordered to garrison the post and remained until 1864. That year, following the end of the Bald Hills War, the Indians who resided on the reservation were moved to the Round Valley Indian Reservation. In October the Fort Bragg garrison was loaded aboard the steamer "Panama" and completed the evacuation and abandonment of Mendocino County's first military post.

The Mendocino Indian Reservation was discontinued in March 1866 and the land opened for settlement three years later.[1]

## See also

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* Sebastian Indian Reservation
* Nome Cult Farm
* Smith River Reservation
* Tule River Farm

## References

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1. ^ a b c Report of the commissioner of the General Land Office, U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1870, pp.43-44
2. ^ Anthony Jennings Bledsoe, Indian wars of the Northwest: A California sketch, Bacon & Company, San Francisco, 1885, pp.228-280

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mendocino Indian Reservation.

* Mendocino Indian Reservation (California) from www.familysearch.org.
* 1869 map of Mendocino Indian Reservation

* v
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Indian reservations and Rancherías in California

Reservations
and Colonies|

* Agua Caliente
* Barona
* Benton Paiute
* Big Pine
* Bishop
* Bridgeport
* Campo
* Capitan Grande
* Chemehuevi
* Colorado River
* Colusa
* Coyote Valley
* Death Valley
* Elem
* Ewiiaapaayp
* Fort Bidwell
* Fort Independence
* Fort Mojave
* Fort Yuma
* Hoopa Valley
* Inaja and Cosmit
* Jamul Indian Village
* La Jolla
* La Posta
* Lone Pine
* Los Coyotes
* Manzanita
* Mendocino
* Mesa Grande
* Morongo
* Pala
* Pauma and Yuima
* Pechanga
* Quartz Valley
* Rincon
* Round Valley
* San Manuel
* San Pasqual
* Santa Rosa
* Santa Ynez
* Santa Ysabel
* Sebastian
* Smith River
* Sycuan
* Tejon
* Tule River
* Viejas
* Washoe
* Wiyot
* Yurok

Rancherías|

* Alturas
* Auburn
* Berry Creek
* Big Bend
* Big Lagoon
* Big Sandy
* Big Valley
* Blue Lake
* Buena Vista
* Cedarville
* Chicken Ranch
* Chico
* Cloverdale
* Cold Springs
* Cortina
* Dry Creek
* Elk Valley
* Enterprise
* Graton
* Greenville
* Grindstone
* Jackson
* Laytonville
* Likely
* Lookout
* Lower Lake
* Lytton
* Manchester-Point Arena
* Middletown
* Montgomery Creek
* Mooretown
* Northfork
* Paskenta
* Picayune
* Redwood Valley
* Redding
* Resighini
* Roaring Creek
* Robinson
* Rohnerville
* Rumsey
* Santa Rosa
* Sheep Ranch
* Shingle Springs
* Smith River
* Stewarts Point
* Susanville
* Trinidad
* Upper Lake
* Wilton
* XL Ranch

* v
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* e

Municipalities and communities of Mendocino County, California, United States

County seat: Ukiah

Cities|

* Fort Bragg
* Point Arena
* Ukiah
* Willits

Mendocino County map

CDPs|

* Albion
* Anchor Bay
* Boonville
* Brooktrails
* Calpella
* Caspar
* Cleone
* Comptche
* Covelo
* Hopland
* Laytonville
* Leggett
* Little River
* Manchester
* Mendocino
* Philo
* Potter Valley
* Redwood Valley
* Talmage

Unincorporated
communities|

* Andersonia
* Bell Springs
* Branscomb
* Burbeck
* Cummings
* Dos Rios
* Duncan Springs
* Elk
* Flumeville
* Gualala
* Hardy
* Hearst
* Inglenook
* Irmulco
* Kibesillah
* Longvale
* Nashmead
* Navarro
* Newport
* Northspur
* Noyo
* Old Hopland
* Orrs Springs
* Piercy
* Pieta
* Pine Grove
* Pomo
* Shake City
* Soda Springs (Boonville)
* Soda Springs (Burbeck)
* South Leggett
* Spyrock
* Ukiah Rancheria
* Vichy Springs
* Westport
* Whiskey Springs
* Whitesboro
* Yorkville

Indian
reservations|

* Coyote Valley Reservation
* Guidiville Rancheria
* Hopland Rancheria
* Iverson Indian Rancheria
* Manchester-Point Arena Rancheria
* Nacomis Indian Rancheria
* Pinoleville Rancheria
* Potter Valley Rancheria
* Sherwood Valley Rancheria
* Redwood Valley Rancheria
* Round Valley Indian Reservation‡

Former
settlements|

* Bokea
* Buldam
* Cahto
* Chomchadila
* Christine
* Dapishul
* Fish Rock
* Glenblair
* Lema
* Masut
* Mendocino Indian Reservation
* Moiya
* Poonkiny
* Rockport
* Shiegho
* Signal Port
* Ubakhea
* Wheeler

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* California portal
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