São Vicente has an area of 78.82 km² and 5,723 inhabitants (2011), subdivided into 3 parishes.Probably, the settlement of São Vicente took place in the mid-fifteenth century, having been colonized later than the south slope of the island for reasons of greater fertility and ease of clearing the latter.

The first places to be settled were São Vicente and Ponta Delgada, respectively.The progressive increase of its population contributed to the dismemberment of São Vicente from the captaincy of Machico, being elevated to town and county seat, by royal charter of August 25, 1774. The current parishes of Porto Moniz, Seixal, Arco de São Jorge and São Jorge were under its purview.

In 1835, a restructuring led to the appearance of two new municipalities, Santana and Porto Moniz, which reduced the area of the municipality of São Vicente. However, this situation was short-lived since, by decree, in 1867 São Vicente returned to its initial extension. Again, in 1898, with the reestablishment of the extinct municipalities, the county returned to its current area.Currently, the county registers a development of the tourist sector, together with rural tourism.