In 1759, José and Eusebio Ceballos Rojas, descendants of Spanish conquistadors, donated this region the land to construct a chapel.

Residents of the region entrusted and recommended that this region become the foundation of Saint San Vicente Ferrer, which was named after the Catholic saint San Vicente Ferrer, the principal patron of the Valencia community of Spain.

The virgin, Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquíra, was also recommended as the town's patron, and the community still celebrates both Catholic icons.

The inhabitants of San Vicente Ferrer ended the period of mineral exploration and developed an economy based in the livestock and agricultural industry, which still exists today.

The town is traditionally a great producer of cabuya, a material made from the local Fique plant.