Original: Censo 2002 de Población y Vivienda, Oficina Nacional de Estadistica History The city was named after its founder, the "Comendador of Lares" (Comendador was the chief of a military or religious order) but on 29 november, 1930 it was changed to Elías Piña.
Simplified: The city, founded in 1868, was named after Nicolás de Ovando, the "Comendador of Lares" (Comendador was the chief of a military or religious order).