The municipality of La Vega de San Mateo, according to the oldest surviving documents, was created around 1824 during the reign of King Ferdinand VII.
However, since 1703, more than a century earlier, La Vega de San Mateo already had a District Mayor dependent on the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council. A resident named Blas Quintana was the first to hold this position, directly appointed by Corregidor Antonio Pinto de Guizla y Corona.
Other documents exist, such as the deed signed by Notary Public Don Juan Manuel Navarro in 1736, which states, among other things: "the hermitage of San Mateo Apóstol, located at the site of Vega de Arriba..." We can see how La Vega de Arriba is mentioned in this document, since at that time the entire area we know today as Las Medianías was called La Vega, with Santa Brígida being La Vega de Abajo. El Madroñal, La Vega de En Medio, and Vega de San Mateo, La Vega de Arriba. 1st
The name La Vega is found in documents as old as the History of the Conquest of the Seven Canary Islands by Licentiate D. Francisco López de Ulloa, written in 1646. La Vega is also mentioned by the conquistadors' chaplain, Pedro Gómez Escudero.
According to Pascual Madoz in his Geographical-Statistical-Historical Dictionary published in 1845, it tells us: La Vega de San Mateo, with a town hall on the island, diocese of Gran Canaria, judicial district of Las Palmas, located almost in the center of the district of a small plain between them, separated by a mountain range of two mountains to the left of a stream called "Barranco de Tinamar." This is the only and first place where the word "Tinamar" has been found, which is what the municipality of Vega de San Mateo was and is known by.
Of note is the first hermitage built to San Mateo, which was built in 1652 by Don Luís Martel, Don Salvador Báez, and other residents of La Vega.
A patronage was later created in La Guaira (Venezuela) in 1769 by Don Juan Martel Magas, grandson of the aforementioned, before the notary José Rafael Lemos. He granted powers to Don Tomás Romero Maldonado, Canon of the Cathedral Church, and established the provision of 50 masses on Sundays and holidays on the patronage property, which consisted of an orchard and a house called the Painter's House in La Vega de Arriba. He also purchased two plots of land in San Mateo and Hoya Viciosa before leaving for America. Years later, after the new church was built on the current site, the current parish of San Mateo was established by a decree of Bishop Don Manuel Verdugo dated October 26, 1800.
- 1476 - A place called ATIACAR, ruled by the Guayre Auteiga, is known. Over time, it will be known as Utiaca.
- 1736 - First news of its existence.
- 1797 - First water conflicts in La Higuera.
- 1800 - Religious independence thanks to Bishop Verdugo.
- 1801 - Administrative independence. It separates from Santa Brígida on December 16.
- 1842 - First proposals for the creation of a cemetery (Juan XXIII Street).
- 1846 - Blessing of the cemetery (Juan XXIII Street).
- 1851 - Cholera epidemic.
- 1877 - First diligence to San Mateo from Las Palmas, inaugurating the road.
- 1884 - Request to expand the church by one nave.
- 1887 - The expansion of the Church is approved by the Minister of Grace and Justice.
- 1890 - The boundaries of Valsequillo, Valleseco, Sta. Brígida, Teror, and Tejeda are established.
- 1891 - Smallpox epidemic in Utiaca, Aríñez, and La Yedra.
- 1894 - Manuel Socorro Pérez, priest and author of several costumbrista novels set in San Mateo, is born in Cueva Grande; Mariela, Silda, and ¿Oro en la Cumbre?
- 1894 - In March, José Betancor Cabrera is appointed court clerk. He would become known as "Ángel Guerra," author of "La Lapa," among others.
- 1897 - The new church nave is built. 1900 - The Municipal Census Board designates the streets of the town: Principal, Caldereta, Enmedio, Norte, and Del Agua.
- 1908 - Sunday opening of businesses is officially requested for the first time.
- 1914 - The Island Council approves the construction of the highway.
- 1914 - The first telephone line.
- 1915 - Serious disturbances due to the transport of water from the summit to Las Palmas.
- 1918 - By plenary agreement, the livestock fair is established in El Convento.
- 1938 - October. San Mateo is officially declared a "Fair Municipality."
- 1943 - The Alameda de Santa Ana is built.
- 1944 - Public lighting is inaugurated on March 19.
- 1944 - The first sound cinema is inaugurated.
- 1946 - The public school opens.
- 1950 - The Virgin of Fatima arrives in San Mateo.
- 1951 - The livestock fair is built.
- 1970 - August. The rosary of Our Lady of Fatima is moved. Miracle?
- 1983 - The Farmers' Market opens.
Link to source, Wikipedia, HERE
