The city was the provincial capital until President Ferdinand Marcos transferred it to Imus on June 11, 1977.Today, it still hosts many offices of the provincial government.The city was named after the Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite, a group of prominent Caviteños who were convicted of rebellion and executed by the Spanish colonial government on September 12, 1896 in the old port city of Cavite during
the Philippine Revolution.According to the 2015 census, the city has a population of 155,713 people with a land area of 39.10 km2 (15.10 sq mi) and an income classification of 1st class. Trece Martires started as one of the largest and most remote barrios of Cavite. Originally named Quinta or Quintana, it was part of the municipality of Tanza. The land was basically agricultural subdivided into cattle ranches and sugar farms, with less than one thousand hectares, located at the intersection of the present Tanza-Indang Road and the Naic-Dasmariñas Road (now Governor's Drive). The city was established on May 24, 1954 under 'Republic Act No. 981 ("The Charter of Trece Martires City") as approved by President Ramon Magsaysay. The Republic Act also transferred the provincial seat of government from Cavite City to Trece Martires.The original bill, House Bill 1795, was authored by Congressman Jose T. Cajulis (1954–1957) and Senator Justiniano S. Montano (1949–1956). Under the city charter, the Governor of Cavite is also ex-officio Mayor of Trece Martires; then-Governor Dominador Mangubat was installed as the city's first chief executive. On January 2, 1956, the provincial capitol was formally inaugurated, the same day the newly elected Governor, Delfin N. Montano (the son of former Senator Justiniano Montano) was sworn into office. He served in both offices from 1956 to 1971. On June 22, 1957 the original act was amended by Republic Act 1912 increasing its territory to 3,917 hectares (9,680 acres), more or less. Consequently, the municipalities of Indang and General Trias had to yield parts of their respective areas to this territorial expansion. On June 11, 1977, former President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed Presidential Decree No. 1163 relocating the capital and seat of government from Trece Martires to City (then-municipality) of Imus. Governor Juanito Remulla requested Marcos in September 1979 to transfer the capital back to Trece Martires City. As of 2011, the provincial capital is still Imus City, but most of the provincial offices are still located in Trece Martires City. Thus, making Trece Martires as a de facto capital of the province, while Imus as a de jure provincial capital. On March 31, 1992, the Republic Act no. 7325 was approved by President Corazon C. Aquino amending the charter of Trece Martires City, allowing the city to vote their own local officials for the first time.
