Due to its strategic position the area experienced steady growth, and thanks to the donation of land by Ramón Bueno and José Triana, the municipality was officially founded with the name of Girardot, in honor of General Atanasio Girardot. This was documented in the ordinance 20 on October 9, 1852 that says “… create a parish district with the name of Girardot…”. The first mayor of the district was named Claudio Clavijo. The parish was created in 1866 (reviewed by the Cudinamarca Gazette No 407 of July 7, 1891), and was the first parish of priest José Marcelino Pardo.