The English exported salt to Europe from Porto Inglês, hence the name of that city.

[1] The inconclusive Battle of Maio was fought between British and French frigate squadrons off the island's southern coast on 23 January 1814 in the last stages of the Napoleonic Wars.

This municipality consists of one freguesia (civil parish), Nossa Senhora da Luz, which also covers the whole island.

The freguesia is subdivided into the following settlements: Since 2004, the Movement for Democracy (MpD) is the ruling party of the municipality.

The island prospered around salt collecting in its early days of colonialism, with a little agriculture and grazing.

Products that farmers cultivate year round are sweet potato, cassava, papaya, fig, coconut and tamarind.