Founded with the name of Villa Santa Rosa de Los Andes of three standing stones on July 31, 1791 by the Governor of the Kingdom of Chile, Ambrosio O'Higgins Irish Ballenary in the place called "the Standing Stones", fertile area that met the conditions for a settlement that would resupply and lodging to travelers crossing Los Andes. Before choosing the final location, O'Higgins had visited the area called Curimón, on the road between San Felipe and-now-Los Andes, where it is located since 1660 the Franciscan convent of Santa Rosa de Viterbo, and had chosen to establish the Villa, but the pastor and neighbors Curimón made him see the wisdom of founding the Stops in Las Piedras Villa as it was a more accessible place for travelers.
The first mayor of the town was Don Jose Miguel Villarroel. The first parish priest was the priest Bernardo Barahona, who was one of generous neighbors who contributed money for the purchase of the land of the village, which belonged to Antonio Escudero and Francisco Herrera.
During the time of independence played an important role as a transit Patriotic Army in their flight to Argentina after the disaster of Rancagua (1 and October 2, 1814), where the Andean people provided shelter and food to the soldiers. Then Villa were in almost all the leaders who participated in the struggle for the independence of Chile, including the General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, Manuel Rodriguez Erdoiza, the brothers Juan José, Luis and Jose Miguel Carrera, Juan Gregorio Las Heras, Fray Camilo Henríquez, and many others.
The last battle before crossing the border with Argentina was in the Battle of the Papers (October 11, 1814), on the side of the same name, after which the patriots fled to Mendoza. During this flight was the legendary episode of the "Salto del Soldado".
During the Spanish Reconquista Period, Los Andes was the center of communication between the Liberation Army led by General José de San Martín of Argentina and the Chilean patriots who organized resistance by Spanish guerrillas.
The Andes also received the patriotic soldiers in the return of Army of the Andes from Mendoza (division crossed Uspallata Pass) towards Curimón, where they would meet with the division under the command of General San Martín and O'Higgins who cross the pass of Los Patos released Putaendo (Battle of bribes) and San Felipe el Real. Then both divisions would be directed towards the hills of Chacabuco, where the Spanish troops would expire in the historic battle of February 12, 1817. The division that liberated Los Andes was commanded by General Las Heras.
In 1831, exiled to Chile reached the Argentine citizen and later Chief Executive of the country, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, a professor of public school in Villa Santa Rosa. For disputes with the governor of the department, had to move to the town of Pocuro, where he settled with a still life, then closed to make school (and is now preserved national monument). Among his students was highlighted pocurano José Joaquín Aguirre, later, a prominent physician and rector of the University. Almost opposite the house of Sarmiento, is another national monument: the birthplace of Cerda, president between 1938 and 1941.
Due to the great development achieved by the Village, the government of José Joaquín Pérez, accepting the request of the authorities and neighbors, gave him the title of city by decree dated July 31, 1865. The Villa Santa Rosa de los Andes, remained in the memory, emerged the City of Los Andes. Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of its founder, who had announced that over time the Villa Santa Rosa would become an important center of population and of national life.
The golden age of the city begins with the installation of Trasandino Telegraph, which opened on June 23, 1872, with the valuable participation of the brothers John and Matthew Clark. Los Andes became the scene of one of the most important communications in Chile.
An important part of so-called Bi-Oceanic Corridor. Since the first half of the twentieth century (1910 specifically), started from the city heading to Mendoza, Argentina, called the Trans-Andean Railway, designed by the Chilean Juan and Mateo Clark, carrying passengers and cargo from the April 5, 1910 date of his inauguration. Since the late 70's stopped carrying passengers and ended completely their operations in the early 1980's. Today is a new project launching this historic railroad. In this railroad workers had born Trasandino Sports Club, official representative of football in the city for over one hundred years.
On September 18, 1866, thanks to the selfless efforts of a group of neighbors, is presented in public practice Pump Andes and thirty volunteers who give birth to the Fire Department of Los Andes. Who died on May 7 Bladimiro Valencia.
