About ALTA, CA
Alta California was formed in 1804 when the province of California, then a part of the Spanish colony of New Spain, was divided in two along the line separating the Franciscan missions in the north from the Dominican missions in the south. The southern part became the territory of Baja California. The two territories were also alternatively called Nueva California and Vieja California.
Alta California—covering the land that belongs to the modern-day US states of California, Nevada, Utah, northern Arizona, western Colorado, and southwestern Wyoming—gained independence from Spain in 1821 upon conclusion of the Mexican War of Independence. After the war, the region was included in short-lived First Empire (that Spain deemed illegal in 1822) but was not recognized as one of the newly independent United Mexican States. (The 1824 Constitution refers to Alta California as one of the territories.) Mexico lost control of the territory as a result of the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). Upon the declaration of war by the US Congress, partly in response to events in Texas after its annexation by the United States and partly in response to calls from Northern California's American residents who were striving for independence from Mexico, US Army and US Navy forces entered into the territory and overpowered the remaining Mexican military units. In Southern California, the Californios formed a defensive army and were victorious after the Siege of Los Angeles and at the Battle of San Pascual, and the Battle of Dominguez Rancho, but fought indecisive encounters at the Battle of Rio San Gabriel and the Battle of La Mesa; they formally surrendered with the signing of the Treaty of Cahuenga on January 13, 1847. California was ceded to the United States in 1848 by the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Learn more about this city.
City of Alta, CA official site
City of Alta, CA Chamber of Commerce
City of Alta, CA newspaper
County of Alta, CA official site
State of California official site