The town grew around a small church built in 1520 in lands given by the DÃ vila family ; for that reason , in old times the town was called Hato Mayor de DÃ vila . Hato Mayor del Rey was founded around the year 1520 by Francisco DÃ vila as land that was dedicated to cattle and agriculture . Francisco DÃ vila , in his position as Treasurer and Perpetual Royal Regidor in Hispanola , established the Majorat of DÃ vila on August 23 , 1554 in the city of Santo Domingo , in the presence of his nephew Gaspar DÃ vila .