It has an area of 63.8 km2 (24.6 sq mi) and according to the preliminary results of the 2010 Census, the population was 321,833 inhabitants.

Its name reflects Argentina's disputed claims of sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas in Spanish).

It was created on October 20, 1994 by Provincial Law #11551, seceding from the partido of General Sarmiento, which was dissolved the following year.

Its capital, Los Polvorines, was founded on the Ferrocarril General Manuel Belgrano railway, along with the neighboring town of Del Viso.

By Decree #4520, the federal government on 17 December 1908, created the train stop Los Polvorines, which name came from the Sargento Cabral munitions depot (polvorín in Spanish), established by the Argentine Army nearby.