The state is the smallest one in area, and is located off the northeast Caribbean coast of Venezuela. It is the only insular state of Venezuela (not including the Federal Dependencies, a federal territory but not a state). The main island of Margarita has an area of 934 km². Its capital city is La Asunción, and the main urban center is Porlamar.
In 1821, when Gran Colombia was created, the Province of Margarita was integrated to the Orinoco Department, along with other regions. When the Republic of Venezuela arose in 1830, it was one of the original Provinces of Venezuela.
In 1864, when Venezuela was divided into 20 states and a Federal District, Margarita took the name of State of New Sparta. In 1881 its status was changed to be a section of the Greater Guzmán Blanco State (Called Miranda from 1889 to 1898). In 1901, two years after the autonomy of the states was restored, it retook the name of New Sparta, but again lost it between 1904 and 1909, period in which it was included in the Federal District as "Eastern Section". In 1909 it recovered the condition of a State, and in 1948 it added the island of Cubagua.
The main island of Margarita has an area of 934 km². Its capital city is La Asunción. The main urban center is Porlamar. Other important towns are Juan Griego, Pampatar (home of the Port Authority), Punta de Piedras, San Juan Bautista, Las Guevaras, Las Hernández, Villa Rosa, Bella Vista (Margarita), El Valle del Espíritu Santo.