The city is the largest producer of pineapple in the nation, due to the nearby Pacaya Volcano which fertilizes the soil.

[3] But this plan never materialized, mainly because the Spanish crown lost control of the regular orders as soon as their friars set course to America.

Shielded by their apostolic privileges granted to convert natives into Catholicism, the missionaries only responded to their order local authorities, and never to that of the Spanish government or the secular bishops.

The doctrines were founded at the friars discretion, given that they were completely at liberty to settle communities provided the main purpose was to eventually transfer it as a secular parish which would be tithing of the bishop.

[4] In 1638, the Order of Preachers split their large doctrines —which meant large economic benefits for them— in groups centered around each one of their six monasteries, and the Pueblo Viejo doctrine was moved under the Amatitlán monastery jurisdiction:[5] After the independence of Central America, and during governor Mariano Rivera Paz time in office, a decree issue on 6 November 1839, created a new independent district called Amatitlán which also included Palín and Villa Nueva.