San Bernardino, California , was named in San Bernardino's earliest known inhabitants were Serrano Indians Spanish for "people of the mountains" who spent their winters in the valley, and their summers in the cooler mountains. They were known as the "Yuhaviatam" or People of the Pines. They have lived in the valley since approximately B.
They lived in small brush covered structures. At the time the Spanish first visited the valley, approximately Serranos inhabited the area. A group of adobe buildings were constructed around The site was closed when Governor Figueroa closed down the mission system in The site would later be known as "Old San Bernardino.
This route was known to the vaqueros of the San Bernardino de Sena Estancia who had come to the aid of Armijo's party with food. Kit Carson and a group of trappers went through the Cajon Pass in The Cajon Pass was used by many early explorers, settlers, and traders going to places further west. After the Mission system was dismantled by the Mexican government in , several prominent Southern Californians attempted to acquire Rancho San Bernardino.
In , Antonia Pico and Andres Pico made an application for the land, but it was rejected. Ygnacio Palomares , applied for the right to graze cattle in the eastern San Bernardino Valley. Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado rejected the application. Instead, the governor approved a settlement plan by Antonio Maria Lugo.
Lugo's proposal was to colonize the San Bernardino area, listing 27 prospective settlers. In , the Lugo's colonization permit was granted for 18 leagues of land.
