Settlement from which modern Beočin developed was mentioned first in 1702. In the beginning it was only a village, and its basic economic activity was wine production (even today, the oldest part of Beočin is known as Beočin Selo, i.e. "Beočin village" in English). After the cement factory was opened (in 1871), Beočin developed into a modern town, which over time became the centre of the northern Syrmia. The cement factory in Beočin is one of the largest cement factories in Europe. New, urban part of the town, started to develop as worker's colony and it was known as Fabrika ("factory"), Beočin Fabrika ("Beočin factory") and Beočin Grad ("Beočin town").