It has 20,164 inhabitants per the 2001 census [INDEC], and is the head town of the Ischilín Department.

The settlement was founded as Villa de Deán Funes on 9 March 1875, when the Ferrocarril Central Norte from Córdoba reached the area.

It received its name honouring Gregorio Funes, a writer and deacon of the Archdiocese of Córdoba who was a deputy to the Junta Grande after the May Revolution of 1810.

It received a strong wave of immigration, chiefly made up of Spaniards, Italians, people from Arab countries, and Yugoslavs.

The city hosts the Northern Córdoba Tradition Festival annually in the first half of January.