Vallecito, San Diego County, California

Vallecito
Vallecito Stage Station County Park
Vallecito Stage Station historical marker (2017)
Location in California
Location	San Diego County, California, U.S.
Nearest city	Agua Caliente Springs, California
Coordinates	32°58′34″N 116°21′1″W / 32.97611°N 116.35028°W / 32.97611; -116.35028
Operated by	San Diego County
Former settlement
Former settlement
Nickname:  Vallecitas
Elevation [1]	474 m (1,555 ft)
California Historical Landmark
Official name	Vallecito Stage Station
Reference no.	304

Vallecito, in San Diego County, California, is an oasis of cienegas and salt grass along Vallecito Creek and a former Kumeyaay settlement on the edge of the Colorado Desert in the Vallecito Valley. Its Spanish name is translated as "little valley". Vallecito was located at the apex of the gap in the Carrizo Badlands created by Carrizo Creek and its wash in its lower reach, to which Vallecito Creek is a tributary. The springs of Vallecito, like many in the vicinity, are a product of the faults that run along the base of the Peninsular Ranges to the west.

Once a seasonal village of the native Kumeyaay people, on a trail across the desert from the Colorado River, this oasis became a crucial stopping place for Spanish and then Mexican travelers to recover from the desert crossing between Sonora and New Mexico to California. Later it also served the same function for American soldiers, 49ers and their herds of animals being driven to the goldfields on the Southern Emigrant Trail.

The non native settlement of the site began in 1850 as a camp with a one-room sod warehouse as the U.S. Army Depot Vallecito for the supply of Fort Yuma. It was later increased in size and became a store, a stage station, and a ranch house. Eventually reduced to ruins, the Station house was restored in 1934 and is now the site of Vallecito Stage Station County Park.

Documented Native trails exist from Laguna Mountains to the Preserve area. Three important, extensive, and highly sensitive Kumeyaay village sites occur within the area. Important named location on Southern Overland Trail – travel corridor from the Colorado River to coastal California. Used from prehistoric times to present by indigenous Peoples, explorers, Mexicans, Europeans, early U.S. military, mail, pioneer settlers in wagons, stage coaches, gold-seekers, cattlemen, ranchers, and other pioneer travelers. Area is adjacent to Vallecito Butterfield Stage-Overland Mail Station in San Diego County Park. 19th century homestead of James E. Mason (Mason Valley). Olin-Bailey Earthen Structure (rammed earth) of early 20th century; protective shelter recently constructed (Prop 84 funds allocated for stabilization of the structure, interpretation, and fencing). Campbell Ranch Historic Complex of mid-20th century; eligible for National Register as an Historic District.^[2]