The river Oiartzun cuts its way through the town, one that has undergone severe pollution up to recent times on its lower stage.

The town was founded in 1320, during the reign of Alfonso XI of Castile, with the name of Villanueva de Oiarso or Oyarço.

The Basque form Errenteria (also Errenteri or Errenderi) started to appear towards the end of the 16th century.

In September 1982, Rentería was the scene of the bloodiest ETA attack of that year.

Errenteria is twinned with: This article about a location in the Basque Country, Spain, is a stub.