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This article is about the Channel Islands of California. For the islands in the English Channel, see Channel Islands (Europe).
The term "Channel Islands" refers to at least the four islands on the south side of the Santa Barbara Channel, and sometimes also to one or more of four other islands, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern California.
The four islands included in all definitions of the Channel Islands are, from west to east: San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and Anacapa, the last of which is actually several islands separated by narrow stretches of water. These four, plus Santa Barbara Island to the southeast, comprise the Channel Islands National Park.
Three other islands (San Nicolas, San Clemente, and Santa Catalina, often called just "Catalina") are also included in some uses of the phrase "Channel Islands."
Humans have inhabited the islands for at least 13,000 years, according to the date assigned to remains found on Santa Rosa Island.[1] At the time of European contact in 1542, the Chumash people lived on the islands, and used wooden canoes to travel to and trade with the mainland. Many Chumash died as a result of exposure to diseases contracted from the Europeans.
The islands were Spanish territory until 1821, then came under the jurisdiction of newly independent Mexico, whose government encouraged cattle and sheep ranching on the islands. The United States acquired sovereignty after the Mexican-American War of 1846-48.
- ↑ John R. Johnson, "Arlington Springs: The Earliest Evidence for Paleoindians in Coastal California," on the website of the U.S. National Park Service at http://www.nps.gov/chis/historyculture/arlington.htm, archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5xBMpZ366, consulted 14 March 2011.