Editing Temecula, California (section)

===Pre-1800===
The area was inhabited by the Temecula Indians for hundreds of years before their contact with the Spanish [[missionaries]] (the people are now generally known as the ''[[Luiseño people|Luiseños]]'', after the nearby [[Mission San Luis Rey de Francia]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fourdir.com/luiseno.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020415115900/http://www.fourdir.com/luiseno.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 15, 2002|title=FDI - Luiseno|website=Fourdir.com|access-date=August 31, 2017}}</ref> Seven bands of Luiseño Indians inhabited the Temecula valley pre-contact: the [[Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians|Pechanga]], [[La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians|La Jolla]], [[Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians|Soboba]], [[Pala Band of Luiseno Mission Indians|Pala]], [[Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians|Rincon]], [[Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission Indians|Pauma]], and San Luis Rey bands (presently, all of the bands except the San Luis Rey are [[List of federally recognized tribes by state|federally recognized tribes]]).<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=List of Federal and State Recognized Tribes|url=https://www.ncsl.org/legislators-staff/legislators/quad-caucus/list-of-federal-and-state-recognized-tribes.aspx#ca|access-date=December 9, 2021|website=www.ncsl.org}}</ref> The [[Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians|Pechanga Band]] of Luiseño believe their ancestors have lived in the Temecula area for more than 10,000 years, though ethnologists think they arrived at a more recent date. In Pechanga history, life on Earth began in the Temecula Valley. They call it "'Éxva Temeéku", the place of the union of Sky-father, and Earth-mother ("Tuukumit'pi Tamaayowit").<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians - HISTORY|url=https://www.pechanga-nsn.gov/index.php/history|access-date=December 9, 2021|website=www.pechanga-nsn.gov}}</ref> The Temecula Indians ("Temeekuyam") lived at "Temeekunga", or "the place of the sun".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pechanga-nsn.gov/page?pageId=6|title=Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians|access-date=August 31, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708141247/http://www.pechanga-nsn.gov/page?pageId=6|archive-date=July 8, 2007}}</ref> Other popular interpretations of the name include "The sun that shines through the mist"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.temeculainformation.com/oldtown/history.htm|title=Old Town Temecula, History, Event Information, Antique Shops and Temecula Homes For Sale|website=Temeculainformation.com|access-date=August 31, 2017}}</ref> or "Where the sun breaks through the mist".<ref name="Temecula history">{{cite web|url=http://www.cityoftemecula.org/Temecula/Visitors/About/History/|title=Temecula history|website=Cityoftemecula.org|access-date=August 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320073127/http://www.cityoftemecula.org/Temecula/Visitors/About/History/|archive-date=March 20, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The first recorded Spanish visit occurred in October 1797, with a [[Franciscan]] padre, Father Juan Norberto de Santiago, and Captain Pedro Lisalde.<ref name="Temecula history"/><ref name="oldtemecula-history1">{{cite web|url=http://www.oldtemecula.com/history/history1.htm|title=Temecula History 1797—1969 |website=OldTemecula.com|access-date=August 31, 2017}}</ref> Father Santiago kept a journal in which he noted seeing "Temecula ... an Indian village".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vailranch.org/history/village.htm|title=Village|website=Vailranch.org|access-date=August 31, 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202065603/http://www.vailranch.org/history/village.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The trip included the [[Lake Elsinore]] area and the Temecula Valley.