Known initially as Estación Perico, the town was among those renamed for Juan Domingo Perón during the populist leader's 1946 — 55 administration.

Long a center for the production and distribution of tobacco, Perico's growers organized the Cooperativa de Tabacaleros de Jujuy in 1969, and an important Massalin Particulares cigarette plant opened shortly afterwards.

The town's strategic location between the provincial capital, San Salvador de Jujuy, and the city of Salta made the rail station among the busiest in the region.

The privatization of the Ferrocarril General Manuel Belgrano after 1992 led to the station's closure, however.

A Zona Franca (Free economic zone) was established in Perico, and the town's Nobleza Piccardo plant became the nation's largest producer and exporter of Blue Virginia tobacco products.