Yerba Buena becomes San Francisco
Yerba Buena was the original name of the settlement that later became known as San Francisco. Yerba Buena was originally settled by the Spanish in the late 18th century and later became part of Mexican territory in the early 19th century.
During the time of Spanish colonization, the settlement/trading-post that grew between the Mission and the Presidio was called Yerba Buena. The first Alcalde of Yerba Buena from 1834 was Francisco de Haro, who was from Mexico.
The name Yerba Buena is Spanish for "Good Herb" and referred to the fragrant mint and other vegetation that grew in the area.
During the Mexican-American war, in 1846, US Navy Captain John Montgomery claimed Yerba Buena for the United States. The town's location, with its excellent natural harbor, made it strategically important for the U.S. government.
On January 30, 1847, Lieutenant Washington A. Bartlett, who was appointed as the military governor of California, officially changed the town's name from Yerba Buena to San Francisco. The name change was partially due to the desire to have a more American and Western-sounding name for the settlement. San Francisco was a nod to the bay and the nearby Mission San Francisco de Asís (also known as Mission Dolores), which was established in 1776.
San Francisco, and California, officially become part of the United States after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ending the Mexican-American war in 1848.
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