Buguey derived its name from the Ibanag word “Nabugay” which means capsized. Story goes that in the early 1600’s, the sea pirates attacked, plundered the town, and looted the houses in revenge of the Spaniards who attacked them in Mindanao and Sulu. They came to see the biggest bell, the Sta. Barbara bell installed at St. Anne Church, one of the oldest churches built in 1610. They forcibly took the bell as a present to their Sultan. En route to the high seas, a strong gust of wind from the northwest blew fiercely that the Vinta carrying the huge bell sank in the Babuyan Channel. The people who witness the mishap shout with joy in their Ibanag dialect “Nabugay Ira”. The incident that happened to the Moros reverberated even to the distant areas and the word “Nabugay” became and accepted name of the town, but evolved to its present term “Buguey” as time passed by.

Buguey was founded on May 20, 1623 by virtue of a Royal Decree issued by the King of Spain. However, in 1901, it was expropriated and was reduced to the status of barrio and was attached to Camalaniugan. In 1905, the Americans were already organizing municipal and provincial governments in the island, but Buguey remained a barrio. Tired of their political misery and in their desire to uplift the politico-social status of the municipality, a group of political leaders led by Alejandro Varilla, Gregorio Valle, and Placido Calaycay petitioned the American Governor-General to restore Buguey to its former status. With the intercession of Vicente Marasigan and Ex-representative Venencio Concepcion, Buguey was restored its municipal status on July 26, 1915. It was then that hundreds of cows and pigs were slaughtered as people celebrate the occasion for the feast of St. Anne, the Patron Saint of the town.

Buguey is a third class municipality comprising of thirteen (13) coastal barangays and seventeen (17) non-coastal barangays covering a land area of 16,450.05 hectares. Agriculture dominates the municipal economy where the people are predominantly engaged in agriculture, fishing, livestock and forestry. About 80% of the municipality’s total number of families are engaged in farming, fishing and related activities, 7% are employed in the government, 2% are overseas workers and 11% are self-employed.

Predominantly rural, the municipality’s development activities are primarily focused on rural agricultural development and the provision of technical assistance in production along increased research and development extension programs in agriculture and fishery. The high marine and freshwater fishery development potential and large area of existing and potential inland fisheries make Buguey an ideal site for extensive investment in various fishery enterprises. Most recent development indicated that a 284 hectares ideal for inland fisheries located at Barangays Cabaritan and San Isidro are awaiting final declaration from the PEZA Board as agro-industrial economic zone to be known as the Buguey Economic Zone. The PEZA declaration is seen to generate more employment in the agriculture and fishery sector that will further boost the municipality’s claim as the crab capital of the north and the possibility of becoming the aquaculture center in the Cagayan Valley Region

As of the 2015 Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) census on population, Buguey has a population of 30,175 with an average population growth rate of 1.12% between 2010-2015. It has a population density of 183 person per square kilometer, compared to the population density of the province per 2010 NSO data at 129 person per square kilometer. The municipality will double its population by 2077 given the population growth rate mentioned above.

The total population of Buguey based on the 2015 Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) census on population was 30,175, an increase of 1,720 over the 2010 census result. From 3,433 population in 1903, the population had almost tripled in 1918. The highest increase was recorded during the 1960 Census with a total population of 20,475. In 1907s the enactment of RA 6365 or Republic Act somehow reduced the rapid growth of population and thereafter, the municipality population has increased slowly. The average population growth rate was 1.12% for the period 2010 to 2015. Given the population growth rate.

Population density indicates the pattern of population distribution which can sure as indicator of urbanization of an area. The gross population density of Buguey was computed at 1.83 person living per hectare but its built-up density significantly higher in Barangays Sta Maria, Centro, Leron, Mala Weste and Mala Este at 31, 22, 20, 18 and 11 persons per hectare respectively. The high density of these areas is associated to the geographic location wherein these barangays are located along the coastline of the municipality.

With the 2010 and 2015 Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Census on Population, the average growth rate of 1.12% is derived using the geometric formula. At the end of the planning period in the year 2030, the municipality’s population is projected to reach a total of 33,661 of which projected household will grow to 7,981.

Given the population growth rate of 1.12%, its population is projected to double by 2077.

A proactive leadership working harmonously with people, the private and the government sectors committed to the ideals of a service oriented environment-conscious and business friendly community.

Buguey, a progressive, self-reliant peaceful, healthy and dynamic community characterized by freedom justice and equity with enlightened and contented people actively participating and enjoying the benefits of development through prudent and judicious utilization and management of its resources towards a gobally competitive municipality.