Pre-Hispanic Agüimes

The aboriginal colonization of the old territory of Agüimes was intense. It began in the first years of our era and gave rise to a diversity of settlements (cave-inhabitants) located along the extensive network of ravines that make up the orography of our territory. It cannot be forgotten that the pre-Hispanic nuclei of the area were very important, particularly was and Agüimes, as evidenced by the archaeological remains found in them and in the ravines of Balos and Guayadeque. This wealth of men and goods attracted the first Atlantic explorers since the mid-14th century, interested in the slave trade and exchanging Orchilla and Dragon's blood for iron utensils with the indigenous chiefs.

Immediately after the Conquest of Gran Canaria, the nucleus of the Villa was born around the first church of San Sebastián. This territory was quite appetizing, among other reasons, for its ports and fisheries; for its meadows, vineyards and reed beds; for its pastures, mills and waters, springs and streams, as described in the 'mercy letter' granted by the Catholic Monarchs in 1491.

Agüimes, Episcopal seigniory

After its foundation in 1,487, Agüimes was given by the Catholic Monarchs to the Church, returning the favor to Bishop Don Juan de Frías, who contributed to the conquest of Gran Canaria becoming Episcopal Lordship until the 19th century. The Episcopal Chamber thus maintained its fief for four centuries until the Confiscation Act in 1837, which extinguished this property, which covered the territory between Gando and Balos.

Recent economic transformations

At the end of the 19th century, and especially throughout the 20th century, there was a large demand for agricultural products from the local, national and, fundamentally European markets. It caused large extensions of the coastal zone of the Southeast of the Island which became dedicated to export crops. Initially those that were practiced outdoors (tomato plants) and more recently obtained indoors (tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, peppers, flowers ... ).

Industrial activities have a certain tradition in the area. We count with sugar mills, sugar mills, cereal mills, lime kilns for construction and salt for domestic consumption and the salting industry. More recently, industrial specialization is linked to the opening of the biggest highway in the island, that extends all the way from the north to the south of it. It is close to the airport, it implias an ease of communication with multiple areas of the island.

The economic stagnation of the southeast region during the last decades of the 20th century allowed the media to speak of the "poverty triangle" in reference to the three municipalities in the southeast. Currently, however, this area of ​​Gran Canaria is a model of development; particularly Agüimes, the color of its historic center, the rural tourism and the expanding industrial estate.