On July 4, 1833, the vila, through the initiative of the Duke d'Ávila and Bolama, was elevated to the status of city and the district capital, as a reward for the support that the people of the island had given to the Liberalist forces during the Portuguese Liberal Revolution.
Den 4. juli 1833 blev vila'en, gennem initiativ af hertugdommen af Ávila og Bolama, hævet til status af by og distriktshovedsted som en belønning for den støtte, som øens folk havde givet til de liberalistiske styrker under den portugisiske liberale revolution.