In the late NINETEENTH century, the italians come down to the Valley of Canaan; and, behold, they founded a settlement on the banks of the Saint Mary's River to the Rio Doce, which is now known as " São Roque do Canaã.

Because of to those aspects of european culture, and the great plague that devastated the region, these brave men and women taking their name from the village in honor of St. Roch, patron saint against diseases, and greatly revered in the north of Italy, where it originated. In 1883, it was built a chapel, which today is the Church.

The village became the district of Santa Teresa, by the laws of the State no. 137/81. On June 25, 1995, he held a consultation plebiscitária, according to the Legislative Decree no. 02/95. The emancipation was passed into law on 15 December of the same year, by State Law no. 5147, thus giving birth to the municipality of São Roque do Canaã — a name chosen in honour of the Valley the lord.