RustRidge is part of a California Land Grant known as Catacula. It was home to the Wappo Indians. Colonel Joseph B. Chiles obtained the 8000 acre Catacula Land Grant from General Vallejo in 1844 while it was still part of Mexico. Four years later Mexico succeeded the land to the United States. Chiles retained ownership of the land. Today this area is known as Chiles Valley.