In 1899, the United States Department of War conducted a census of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Sabanetas barrio was 1,401.

It derives its name from the plains or savannas found in the northern beaches of Mayagüez, in front of the Mona Channel, and in the vicinity of the mouth of the river now called the Río Grande de Añasco.

[13] It is one of two barrios in Mayagüez whose jurisdiction extends from the main island, because its jurisdiction includes the hilly island of Desecheo, whose name is a Taino name which means "hilly land".

[13] "Eta" in the "Sabana" noun suffix means an indicative of the extent of these savannas is limited in nature, as indeed it is, because it is located among the sea of the West Indies, the Goaorabo River, the swamp of the convent, the caño of La Boquilla and the hills of Algarrobos and Miradero.

[14] Inside Sabanetas barrio the El Mani Pavilion is located, where the handball events were held for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games.