Branciforte Settlement by Ewingjr98
Shortly after the mission was completed the Spanish created a "villa" called Branciforte just across the river. This villa was the only such secular, hybrid community of solders & settlers created by the Spanish in California. This facility was filled with many former soldiers as well as criminals who helped lead to the eventual downfall of the Santa Cruz Mission by abusing the residents and relying on their farms and livestock for food. When the Mexican government decided to secularize the missions in 1834, Branciforte and Mission Santa Cruz were combined under the name Pueblo de Figueroa. Many of the foreigners at Branciforte were banished to Mexico in 1840, but the city ultimately continued to grow into modern Santa Cruz, which maintains many of Branciforte's secular and slightly rebellious traditions.
The only remains from Branciforte are some long-buried building foundations around the intersection of North Branciforte Avenue and Water Street.
