It owes its name to the river that crosses it and flows into the Punta de la Almadrava: the river Girona, which is also called Verger.

El Vergel is an authentic orchard (in Spanish, vergel), since it is a green space lined by forest paths and dotted with farmhouses. Its proximity to the nearby province of Valencia can be seen in the monoculture of oranges on its fertile land, the delta of the river Girona and part of the coastal wetland that is the Pego-Oliva marshland. It also grows rice and vegetables and was once one of the main producers of sultanas, which were shipped for export through the nearby port of Denia.