Soquel in Santa Cruz County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Charlotte (Charlie) Parkhurst

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, January 8, 2013

1. Charlotte (Charlie) Parkhurst Marker

Inscription. The first ballot by a woman in an American presidential election was cast on this site November 3, 1868
by
Charlotte (Charlie) Parkhurst who masqueraded as a man for much of her life. She was a stagecoach driver in the Mother Lode Country during the Gold Rush days and shot and killed at least one bandit. In her later years she drove a stagecoach in this area.

She died in 1879. Not until then was she found to be a woman. She is buried in Watsonville.

Erected by Soquel Volunteer Fire Department. A significant historical date for this entry is November 3, 1861.

Location. 36° 59.31′ N, 121° 57.406′ W. Marker is in Soquel, California, in Santa Cruz County. It is on Soquel Drive, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4747 Soquel Drive, Soquel CA 95073, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Central Coast

and specifically on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Soquel Village: A Legacy of Floods and Resilience (within shouting distance of this marker); Camp Capitola Superintendent’s Office (approx. 1.1 miles away); Historic Lawn Way Cottages (approx. 1.1 miles away); First Capitola City Hall (approx. 1.2 miles away); Capitola’s Natural Riches

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(approx. 1.2 miles away); Venetian Court (approx. 1.2 miles away); China Beach (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Butterfield Stage stopped here. (approx. 1.9 miles away).

Regarding Charlotte (Charlie) Parkhurst. Charlotte (Charlie) Parkhurst was not the first woman in the United States to vote in a federal election, but perhaps the first woman in California.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. — Charley Parkhurst gravesite memorial.

Also see . . . Wikipedia Entry. Excerpt:

In his late 30s, Parkhurst sailed to California following the Gold Rush in 1849; there he became a noted stagecoach driver. In 1868, he may have been the first female to vote in a presidential election in California. After his death was it was discovered that his sex was female and he had given birth at an earlier time. Given the lack of autobiographical account, it has never been settled for certain whether Charley was a transgender man, or a woman who used a persona to be able to do work and have freedoms that would not have been allowed for women during that time. Both feminists and transgender rights advocates have equal reason to find Charley’s story inspiring.

(Submitted on October 31, 2020.)

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, January 8, 2013

2. Charlotte (Charlie) Parkhurst Marker

The marker is mounted on the front of the Soquel Fire Station No. 3 building.

Additional keywords. LGBT, LGBTQ

Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 22, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 2,549 times since then and 52 times this year. Last updated on February 22, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. It was the Marker of the Week November 1, 2020. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 22, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.