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Article: Santa Ana: History
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- Cities of the United States
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Santa Ana: History
Franciscans Settle Santa Ana Valley
The valley in which Santa Ana is located was discovered in July 1769, during a Franciscan expedition led by Don Gaspar Portola. The explorers christened the valley Santa Ana in honor of Saint Anne, also giving the name Santa Ana to the river flowing through the valley. One of the members of the Portola party, Father Junipero Serra, later founded a chain of Franciscan missions that still can be seen today. The El Camino Real, the King's Highway, which linked the missions, passes through the Santa Ana Valley.
Another member of the Portola group, a soldier named Antonio Yorba, and his nephew, Juan Peralta, received a Spanish grant ...