In 1784. former soldier Juan Nietos was granted provisional use of 300.000 acres of ranch land and. after his death. the portion of the land lying between the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo Rivers was carved out and named Rancho San Gertrudes. In 1873. a 96acre parcel of the Rancho became the central district of a community called Downey City. The town was named after John Gately Downey. an Irish immigrant who journeyed to California during the Gold Rush and later became governor of the State. The development of Downey City began slowly. A tract map from 1873 shows a town consisting of only 16 blocks with 10 acres for a railroad station.
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