Formerly a small fishing village until the June 30, 1929 was established as a rural parish of Santa Elena, which belonged to the December 22, 1937, when by official decree signed by the Commander in Chief, General Alberto Enriquez Gallo and published in Official Gazette No. 52 of December 27 of that year, was elevated to the rank of Canton. Its cantonal head is modern and progressive spa town of Salinas, the main tourist attraction of the Ecuadorian coast, and is composed of the rural parishes Ancon, and Jose Luis Tamayo Anconcito (Muey)
