Santiago was founded in the seventeenth century by the inhabitants of the settlements in Montijo and Santa Fe, who decided to found a city south of the river Martin Grande, to serve for their trade and as a departure site for the expeditions.

A curious fact is that, after proclaiming the independence of Panama from Spain on November 28, 1821, in Panama City, on December 1 of that year, in the city of Santiago was proclaimed the Independence of the Province Veraguas from Spanish rule.

Santiago de Veraguas is now a commercial, banking, economic, cultural and production center, since its geographical position within the country is strategic and the attention of many investors that take advantage of this region.

Moreover, it has gradually become the base for tourists to go through the many tourist attractions in the province, from the beautiful mountains of the Central Mountain Range to the already world famous Coiba Island group, but Santiago has itself several attractions for all the public like the Veraguense Museum, the Juan Demostenes Arosemena Park and the Normal School of the same name, being the latter the only forming national educators, the Cathedral of Santiago Apostol and shops in Central Avenue, among others.