An important agricultural center and historical city where in 1811, in the San Francisco Monastery, the heads of the fathers of Mexican Independence were put on display, to the horror of the local population: Miguel Hidalgo, Ignacio Allende, Juan Aldama and Mariano Jiménez.

Mining town of great importance during the colonial period, and the site where in 1923 one of the main leaders of the Mexican Revolution, Francisco Villa, was assassinated. Today it is recognized as the second municipality in the state of Chihuahua with the most historical monuments.

During the colonization process in northern New Spain, the mining district of San Juan Bautista de Indehe—later known as Indé in the 19th century—gained special significance as one of the first mining districts in Nueva Vizcaya.

In the late 16th century, Franciscan missionaries from Cuencamé entered the Mapimí region with the objective of carrying out their evangelizing work, founding several short-lived towns for this purpose.

San Pedro del Gallo, also known as Ojo del Gallo, is currently located in the municipality of the same name, in the stretch that connected the Nazas River and the Zarca plateau. This route was formerly known as the Carretas Path and is situated in a semi-desert region of the Bolsón de Mapimí. In this area, there is a water spring, which made the region a resting place for travelers on the Royal Inland Road where they could graze their horses.

The significance of the ancient mission of the Cinco Señores del Río Nazas, now Nazas, on the itinerary of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro is due to its strategic location.

The mining settlement of San Pedro de los Chalchihuites was founded on October 15, 1556, by Juan de Tolosa and Martín Pérez de Uranzu. Its prosperity was partly due to nearby hills with springs that provided water for supply and the irrigation of orchards through an acequia system.

Between the 16th and 17th centuries, the Real de Minas de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción de Pinos was a mandatory stop for all those traveling from the mines of Zacatecas to the Consulado de la Nueva España in what is now Mexico City, as well as for those traveling to the towns of San Felipe and San Miguel El Grande.

During the second half of the 16th century, indigenous groups persisted in resisting the Spanish presence and constantly attacked the muleteers and the goods they transported along the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. This traffic increased following the mining discoveries in northern New Spain, creating a need to improve the transportation of goods, supplies, and metals through hostile territories. The security measures implemented included the establishment of forts or presidios. These forts represented elements of defense, security, and pacification of the rebellious groups and later served to populate territories.