María Rita Valdez (c. 1791–1854) [1] [2] also known as Maria Rita Valdez Villa, was an Afro-Latina rancher and farmer. Her 4,500-acre ranch, El Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas, later became the Los Angeles County city of Beverly Hills. [3] [4]
Valdez was born in New Spain in about 1791 to Sebastiana and Eugenio Valdez. [4] Her mother was the daughter of Luis and Maria Quintero, two of the original settlers of Pueblo de Los Angeles (present-day Los Angeles, California). [3] [5] Her great-grandfather was an enslaved African. [4]
Maria married Spanish soldier, Vicente Fernando Villa, in 1808. The couple had three children. [4]
In the 1830s, after her husband's death, Valdez was granted the roughly 4,500-acre El Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas where she ran a cattle ranch, farm and garden. Her adobe was located at what is now Alpine Drive and Sunset Boulevard. [3] Valdez had paid employees, most of whom were native to the area. [4]
In 1854, Valdez sold the ranch to investors Henry Hancock and Benjamin D. Wilson for a $4,000. [3]
The Beverly Hills Hotel now stands near the site of her home. A nearby plaque commemorates Valdez and her ranch. [4]
María Rita Valdez (c. 1791–1854) [1] [2] also known as Maria Rita Valdez Villa, was an Afro-Latina rancher and farmer. Her 4,500-acre ranch, El Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas, later became the Los Angeles County city of Beverly Hills. [3] [4]
Valdez was born in New Spain in about 1791 to Sebastiana and Eugenio Valdez. [4] Her mother was the daughter of Luis and Maria Quintero, two of the original settlers of Pueblo de Los Angeles (present-day Los Angeles, California). [3] [5] Her great-grandfather was an enslaved African. [4]
Maria married Spanish soldier, Vicente Fernando Villa, in 1808. The couple had three children. [4]
In the 1830s, after her husband's death, Valdez was granted the roughly 4,500-acre El Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas where she ran a cattle ranch, farm and garden. Her adobe was located at what is now Alpine Drive and Sunset Boulevard. [3] Valdez had paid employees, most of whom were native to the area. [4]
In 1854, Valdez sold the ranch to investors Henry Hancock and Benjamin D. Wilson for a $4,000. [3]
The Beverly Hills Hotel now stands near the site of her home. A nearby plaque commemorates Valdez and her ranch. [4]