Editing Gilroy, California (section)

===Spanish era===
Spanish explorers led by [[Juan Bautista de Anza]] first passed through the [[Santa Clara Valley]] area in 1776. More than 20 years later, Spanish missionaries established [[Mission San Juan Bautista]] in 1797 near the [[Pajaro River]]. In 1809, [[José Francisco Ortega#Family|Ygnacio Ortega]] was granted the {{convert|13066|acre|ha|adj=on}} Spanish land concession [[Rancho San Ysidro]].

The village of San Ysidro developed nearby, at the foot of [[Pacheco Pass]] which linked the [[El Camino Real (California)|El Camino Real]] and the [[Santa Clara Valley]] with the [[San Joaquin Valley]]. California's main exports at this time were [[California hide trade|hides]] and [[tallow]], of which thousands of barrels were produced and shipped to the rest of [[New Spain]]. Trade and diplomatic intercourse with foreigners was strictly forbidden by the royal government but was quietly carried on by Californians desperate for luxury goods.