Until 1933 it was a district belonging to Pilar de Goiás, when it became part of the municipality of Santana, later changed to Uruaçu.

With the building of the Belém to Brasília highway (BR-153) in 1958 Porangatu grew quickly to become the most important commercial center of this new region that was opening up to migrants from the south.

The economy is based on agriculture, cattle raising, services, public administration, and small transformation industries.

Most of the economy is dependent on cattle raising and agriculture, but in recent years the region has attracted medium size industries.

Porangatu is today the commercial center for the north of Goiás receiving people from all the neighboring region to buy its products.