In today’s Spanish lesson, la tijera means “the scissors” – not “the scissor”. The plural las tijeras is more commonly used today, but we’re talking about the Spanish of yesteryear here. La Tijera Boulevard is on the site of the 4,219 acre Rancho Ciénega o Paso de la Tijera – “Marshland Ranch or Scissors Pass”. Deeded in 1843 to Los Angeles alcalde (mayor) Vicente Sánchez (1785-1846), then managed by his widow María Victoria (1787-1870) and grandson Tomás after his death, the rancho’s untidy name came from its two defining features: acres of marshland (ciénega) and a pass, apparently resembling a pair of scissors, through today’s Baldwin Hills. “Baldwin”, by the way, refers to Elias “Lucky” Baldwin, the millionaire speculator who purchased the rancho in 1875. See Baldwin Ave. for a lot more about him.
Find it on the map:
