Sonsón celebrates "Las Fiestas Del Maíz"- ('Festival of the Corn') during the month of August, being the most traditional, historical and representative festival in western Colombia.

Founded on 4 August 1800 by Mr. José Joaquín Ruiz y Zapata, villager judge from the city of Arma de Rionegro, with seventy-seven people.

During the firsts decades of the 19th century, Sonsón became in the provider center of the colonization towards the Colombian west, being a very important financial and commercial hub in the Antioquian region, and also being for several years the second city of the Department.

As agriculture played a vital role in Sonsón, many individuals migrated to the Caribbean and other islands (St. Croix, Haiti, and St. Lucia) during the slave trade to support economic growth.

It is also connected to the municipalities of Abejorral, La Unión and Aguadas (in the Department of Caldas) This locality was also known by the development of the old Medellin - Bogotá motorway.