The town was originally founded as Palmar de Vega by Jesuit missionaries who arrived to evangelize the Chichimeca tribes residing in the region. Throughout its history, it was also known by other names such as Ciudad Porfirio Díaz and San Pedro de los Pozos.

History indicates that the economic growth of the area was driven by the Jesuits, who discovered mercury underground. They built the iconic Jesuit Furnaces to extract the metal from the stone. However, a royal decree would mark the surprising farewell in 1767.

It was of significant importance for Mineral de Pozos, as more than 30 mining companies arrived, extracting and processing mercury, silver, and gold. These companies also built the haciendas, which ruins became iconic to the town.

Because of the friendship between the then governor of Guanajuato and President Porfirio Díaz, the region was known as “Ciudad Porfirio Díaz.”

The decline took hold of the town with the flooding of active mines like Cinco Señores and Angustias: an aquifer had not been identified, and with the explosions, it weakened and burst.

The Cristero War also triggered the massive migration of the few remaining habitants. With less than 200 residents, Mineral de Pozos was labeled a “ghost town.”

The town’s recovery began when it was included in the National Historical Treasure program. Currently, it has been repopulated through ecotourism developments that have arisen from its architectural remains, natural beauties, and even legends that have persisted from generation to generation.

It was declared a “Pueblo Mágico” (Magical Town), as part of the federal program that recognizes towns with significant cultural, gastronomic, artistic, or historical richness.