Chimayó was founded near the end of the 17th century by Spanish settlers in a fertile valley nourished by the Santa Cruz River and protected by the surrounding foothills.The settlers became experts in farming, stock raising and wool weaving. To protect themselves from the threats inherent in a frontier life they created the fortified plaza of San Buenaventura (now the Plaza del Cerro). It is the last surviving fortified plaza in the United States.