Socorro Island was first discovered by Spanish explorer Hernando de Grijalva on December 25, 1533. At that time, the island was named Innocentes. Nine years later, another explorer Ruy Lopez de Villalobos visited the island and called it Anublada (Cloudy Island in Spanish). It was not known as today’s name until 1608, when explorer Martin Yanez de Armida rediscovered the island and changed its name to Isla Socorro, which means “Island of Aid” in Spanish.

Along with other islands of the Revillagigedo Archipelago (San Benedicto, Roca Partida, and Clarion), Socorro Island became part of Mexico, under the Manzanillo municipality of the state of Colima in 1861. Mexico President Benito Juarez took control of the island because of the intention of building an offshore penal facility, although the idea was never implemented. In 1957, the Mexican Navy established a naval base on Socorro Island. Prior to that, there was no population living on the island, while nowadays there is a population of 250 which includes naval base workers and their families. March 21, 1972 was the first time a governor of Colima visit the island. During his visit, governor Pablo Silva Garcia set up a plaque to signify Colima’s claim to the island.