Owners of Catalina Island
SINCE: 1972
OWNER: Catalina Island Conservancy
YEARS: 1919-1972
OWNER: Wrigley Family
YEARS: 1892-1919
OWNER: Banning Family
YEARS: 1887-1892
OWNER:
George Rufus Shatto
YEARS: 1867-1887
OWNER:
James Lick
YEAR: 1850
OWNER: Jose Maria Covarrubias
YEARS: 1846-1850
OWNER: Thomas M. Robbins
Fenced in by ocean and free of large predators, Santa Catalina Island
attracted enterprising ranchers who hoped to make money raising
sheep and cattle for wool, mutton, hides, and beef. Tomas Robbins,
an American who became a naturalized Mexican citizen, established
the first ranch on Santa Catalina island in 1846 when he received
the Island as a land grant from Mexican governor Pio Pico.
Four years later, he sold the Island to Jose Maria Covarrubius,
first in a series of absentee owners. Squatters soon settled in
various coves that still bear their names. Most of them raised
sheep, which reportedly numbered more than 20,000 by 1864.
When James Lick acquired the Island in 1867, he evicted all but three
of the squatters, who were granted leases to run sheep and cattle.
From 1915-1923 the Mauer Cattle Company leased grazing rights from
the Santa Catalina Island Company (formed in 1894). When its lease expired,
the Santa Catalina Island Company took over ranching operations,
maintaining several thousand head of cattle until the 1950s.
Today, no sheep or cattle remain on the Island.
Resources
Wikipedia "George Shatto" Article
History of Catalina Island
Catalina Island Travel Guide
California for Visitors
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