Oia was desperately poor for many centuries. However, in the 19th century, things changed as maritime trade offered the more dynamic islanders the opportunity to amass large fortunes. By 1890, Oia had more than 2500 residents and a fleet of 130 ships. Unlike their employees, who carved their houses in the rock along the cliffs of the caldera, the shipowners chose the flat land at the top of the caldera to build their mansions known as kapetanospita (captains’ houses).