Editing Escondido, California (section)

===Spanish and Mexican eras===
[[File:SanPasqual.jpg|thumb|left|The 1846 [[Battle of San Pasqual]] was a battle between American and [[Californio]] forces during the [[Conquest of California|U.S. Conquest of California]].]]
Spain controlled the land from the late 18th century to the early 19th century, and established many [[Spanish missions in California|missions]] in [[California]] to convert the indigenous people. When [[Mexico]] gained its independence from Spain, the local land was divided into large [[Ranchos of California|ranchos]]. Most of what is now Escondido occupies the former [[Rancho Rincon del Diablo]] ("Devil's Corner"), a [[Ranchos of California|Mexican land grant]] given to Juan Bautista Alvarado (not [[Juan Bautista Alvarado|the governor]] of the same name) in 1843 by Governor [[Manuel Micheltorena]]. Alvarado was a [[regidor]] of Los Angeles at the time, and the first Regidor of [[Pueblo San Diego]]. The southern part of Escondido occupies the former [[Rancho San Bernardo (Snook)|Rancho San Bernardo]], granted in 1842 and 1845.<ref name="Rush">{{cite book| last=Rush| first=Philip S.| title=Some old ranchos and adobes| year=1965| location=San Diego, California| pages=46, 47| chapter=Rincon del Diablo| lccn=65021995}}</ref>

In 1846, during the [[Mexican–American War]], the [[Battle of San Pasqual]] was fought southeast of Escondido. This battle pitted Mexican forces under [[Andrés Pico]] (brother of then-California-governor [[Pío Pico]]) against Americans under [[Stephen W. Kearny]], [[Archibald Gillespie]], and [[Kit Carson]]. A [[Kit Carson Park|park in Escondido]] is named for Carson.