Rancho Los Vergeles was a 8,760-acre (35.5 km2) Mexican land grant in present-day Monterey County and San Benito County, California given in 1835 by Governor José Castro to José Joaquín Gómez.[1] The name means "flower garden". Rancho La Natividad and Rancho Los Vergeles were adjoining ranchos, north of present-day Salinas. The rancho headquarters of each were close to the entrance to the pass through the Gabilan Range to San Juan Bautista.[2]