It was founded by Enrique Bejo (Enriquillo), the Taino chief of Jaragua and hero of Bahoruco, after 14 years of struggle and having managed to force the authorities of Santo Domingo to sign a peace treaty, decided to retire to Boyá in 1533, where he later died, his remains are at the point where a temple was later built. The last Tainos on the island were exterminated in the town of Boyá and, therefore, it has been called the "last redoubt of the indigenous race" of Santo Domingo. By the late 16th century, the population was made up of only 13 Spanish families and was mostly forgotten.
The town experience its greatest population growth during the 1940s, a time when the sowing, cultivation and harvesting of sugar cane also began, an activity directed by the then president of the Dominican Republic, the tyrant Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. The sugarcane production generated the arrival of a large number of families, who came from different parts of the country as well as other parts of the Caribbean, and settled in these properties in search of a better economy of their income.
Sabana Grande de Boya is the hometown of Elly de la Cruz, who debuted as the shortstop of the Cincinnati Reds in June 2023 and was honored as the Major League Player of the Week after only his 17th game in the major leagues.
Sabana Grande de Boya is also hometown of Jose Siri, center field of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Economy
The economy of the town is based on livestock, agriculture and remittances received from abroad, specifically from the United States and Europe.
