Baranca, Perú and was founded in 1823 as a district. The area the town sits in has been inhabited since the pre-Inca era. The town has around 60,000 people, and is located some 175 kilometers north of Lima.
The historical name of the town is "Guamanmayo" which dates backs millenia. That name came from the Quechua language and means "River Sparrowhawk". The Spanish chronicler Pedro de Cieza de León, visited the town of Barranca in 1547 and called it "Valle de Guamán" which in Spanish means "Río del Halcón" or "River of the hawk". According to tradition the original town of Guamanmayo was located a couple of kilometers east of the current city, according to notes from the Spanish governor Vaca de Castro in 1543. At that time the town had taken the name "Karanca" which over time has become Barranca. Prior to 1543BC, the communities were characterized by dedicating themselves to activities such as horticulture, construction of houses with terraces, and working in groups on farms. They were known for making ceramics, they lived a mostly sedentary lifestyle, and where known for cotton weaving.