Colonial records state that there was a village on the site of present-day Chitré as early as 1558, which indicates that it is one of the oldest settlements in the country. However, history and culture didn't arrive in Herrera province with the colonizers. Long before the Spanish conquistadores began carving up the region, the area was home to the Ngöbe-Buglé, who left behind a rich archaeological record. Much of what is known about the Pre-Columbian practices of this indigenous group was obtained from an excavation site near present-day Parita. The Ngöbe-Buglé were forced out of the province by early colonists, though many were able to later find refuge in the Chiriquí highlands.

The city of Chitré was officially founded on October 19, 1848 by the Provincial Chamber of Panama. It was included in the province of Los Santos.

Under the administration of Dr Belisario Porras, on January 18, 1915, Chitré became the capital of the recently formed Herrera province (named after the head of state of the first independent Panama, General Tomás de Herrera). The city grew with the agricultural development of the Azuero Peninsula, which has become one of Panama's major farming and ranching centers. Chitré's gorgeous 18th-century cathedral was substantially re-modeled in 1988.

Today, Chitré is one of Panama's most highly developed cities. It's also one of the most industrialized, providing the country and abroad with resources such as meat, fuel and clothes.

Panamanians look upon the Azuero as their country's heart and soul, and the peninsula still proudly upholds its Spanish legacy, evident in lively local festivals such as Carnaval. The celebrations, which ultimately revolve around copious amounts of eating, drinking and dancing, provide a window into the rich Spanish heritage of this province.