Two hundred and seventy years ago, the large property belonged to the landowner General Ruiz de Arellano was divided for first time. He granted part of his land to the Catholic Church to be sold, get money and build a chapel, known as “Capilla San Antonio” (Saint Anthony Chapel), under the protection of Saint Anthony of Padua, becoming the current patron saint of our town. There was only one temple in all the Areco territory.

On October 23rd, 1730, the Buenos Aires cabildo eclesiástico (cathedral chapter) made a decision by which various villages would be built in the bonaerense countryside, among them, it was the Areco district which had jurisdiction over such territory and the neighbors of the areas of Cruz and Pesquería. Likewise, the Saint Anthony Chapel was appointed as a temporary church. The importance acquired by it made that a little village grew quickly around it. That situation meant that the village went on increasing its extension and, moreover, when Mr. Ruiz de Arellano granted to the priest from Giles, on July 17th, 1750, the power to divide parcels of land among those people who wanted to live in that place. That allowed a group of twenty individuals to become owners of little areas and to build there their own houses.

The first chapel was opened in 1728 and it was changed into a church on October 23rd, 1730. It is considered the foundation stone of the town. A second church was built on June 23rd, 1792, when the Patron Saint, Anthony of Padua, is celebrated and a third one was built on July 9th, 1870. Thenceforth, the church suffered some modifications, being the most important those made between 1909 and 1923, and those made by Father Juan C. Duque, 1924-1940, giving the church its current shape. Nowadays, it is considered the most relevant symbol of the catholic religion and its architecture is worth to be known. This is one of the few churches of the area that has been consecrated. This act meant the highest distinction for a temple.

In documents dated on 17th century, this territory was known with the river name and today it continues being called in the same way. The Pagos de Areco refers to the territory that forms part of the basin of such course of water.

The pago de Areco was managed by the Luján Cabildo (town council) authorities until 1762, when a brotherhood mayoralty was created for the corresponding extension towards the right coast of Areco river and the basin of the Cruz glen, called herein “San Antonio de Areco District”, having as center at the homonym town and church. Thenceforth, it is considered as belonging to this district.

The brotherhood mayoralties were closed in 1821, when it was appointed the first Justice of the Peace in 1822 for the district. Due to the dispositions stated in the “ley de las Municaplidades de 1854” (City Hall Act of 1854), it was added to the authority of the Justice of the Peace, an elected commune by popular vote. That elected commune began to work in March 1856. Finally, the democratic purpose of being stronger the communal regimen, found its highest expression in the “ley Orgánica Municipal de 1886” (Organic City Hall Act of 1886), naming as the first intendente (maximum authority of the town) to Mr. José T. Burgueño.