Once the center of Cuba's cattle industry, the province of Villa Clara became a leader in sugar and tobacco production. Recently Villa Clara has developed a series of beach resorts for tourists in the cays that dot the northern part of the province. Pirates are said to have made their homes in the islands off shore, waiting to attack the ships that passed. The province is now home to more than 800,000 people.

Currently, the only Fraternity church outside the provincial capital city of Santa Clara is in Ranchuelo, a city of 60,000 that is 300 kilometers (186 miles) from Habana.