The area was first known to be the property of the Medina family, they made a living by selling lumber used for housing from the Sierra de Quila.

The people that lived in the San Jerónimo would go to the area saying vamos a la madera, translated as "let's go to the wood".

After many years, the name of La Madera meaning "the wood" referred to the area east of San Jerónimo.

Magdaleno Quintero Velásquez (born 1862) was a prominent rancher in the area, his descendants live in La Madera and San Jerónimo today.

Water is provided by the Arroyo Las Minas, La Cañada, El Ceboruco, and Arroyito Blanco creeks.