Maria Rita Valdez de Villa
Pioneer Land Owner Of California
In 1838, Maria Rita Valdez de Villa became the original grantee of El Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas (The Ranch of The Gathering of Waters), a 4,500-acre expanse of fertile hills and natural springs. As one of the first female landowners in California, she managed the rancho with uncommon strength and foresight. Her land stretched across what would one day become the entirety of Beverly Hills—including the iconic Rodeo Drive.
Quintero/Valdez Afro-Latin Roots
Maria Rita Valdez was of Afro-Latin descent and the granddaughter of Luis Quintero, a tailor from the region of New Spain now known as Guadalajara, Jalisco, who was among the original settlers of Pueblo de Los Angeles in 1781. Her lineage reflects the diverse roots of early California, blending African, Spanish, and Mexican heritage.
El Rancho Rodeo de Las Aguas
The Ranch of The Gathering of Waters
Maria Rita Valdez de Villa oversaw cattle and land operations at El Rancho Rodeo de Las Aguas . In 1852, she survived a siege and shoot-out with Native Americans who attacked her rancho—an event that may have influenced her decision to sell the land two years later to Henry Hancock and Benjamin Wilson.
Commemorative Plaques
Bronze Plaque & Cultural Recognition Golden Shield
The Man Who Built Beverly Hills
After Maria Rita Valdez de Villa sold Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas in 1854, the land changed hands several times before investor Burton Green acquired it in the early 1900s. When oil drilling failed, Green saw a new opportunity—transforming the ranchland into a luxury residential community. In 1906, he founded the Rodeo Land and Water Company and renamed the area Beverly Hills. The name Rodeo Drive was taken directly from the original rancho. To attract buyers, Green built the Beverly Hills Hotel, which opened in 1912 and quickly became a social hub. The city was officially incorporated two years later, anchored by the hotel’s early success.
