It is also known as "Mother of Nations" because it was one of the centers from where the founders and first settlers of Neira, Aranzazu, Manizales, Santa Rosa de Cabal, Pereira, Armenia, among others parted. It was elevated to a municipality in 1861.

It has a population of about 20,000 inhabitants, an area of 40,354 hectares and an average temperature of 22 °C (71.6 °F). Its economy is based on coffee, dairy