Pulupandan derived its name from the vernacular phrase “pulo sang pandan”, meaning “isle of pandan”, due to the wild forest of palms in the town during the early days before it became a bustling seaport.Formerly a barrio of Valladolid, Pulupandan was organized into an independent pueblo or temporary town together with Sum-ag, Ma-ao and Dancalan among others in 1899 under the Republic of Negros when it was created after the successful revolution of Negrenses against Spain.In 1903, after the shortlived existence of the Negros Cantonal Government, a Re-organization Committee was created in consonance with the re-organization of the government during the American Occupation.Ironically however, the municipality of Pulupandan was again incorporated as barrio of Valladolid pursuant to the re-organization. Pulupandan remained as such until 1916 when it was again segregated from Valladolid and re-organized into an independent municipality.

Pulupandan was officially created into a town pursuant to the mandate of the Governor General Francis Burton Harrison as contained in his Executive Order No. 95 dated December 23, 1916. This creation took effect on January 1, 1917 and was implemented by Resolution No. 36 dated January 12, 1917 of the Provincial Board of Negros Occidental with the late Gov. Matias Hilado.Before the Spaniards came to the place, the municipality was covered by the wild forest of palms; it was called “pulo sang pandan” or “isle of pandan” which the name “Pulupandan” derived from and it was previously barrio of Valladolid before it was declared an independent town. 

In 1899, after the successful battle for freedom by the revolutionary against the Spaniards under the Republic of Negros; Pulupandan and other neighboring places like Sum-ag, Ma-ao, and Dancalan was organized into independent pueblo or temporary town.Pulupandan was officially created into a town pursuant to the mandate of the Governor General Francis Burton Harrison as contained in his Executive Order No. 95 dated December 23, 1916. This creation took effect on January 1, 1917 and was implemented by Resolution No. 36 dated January 12, 1917 of the Provincial Board of Negros Occidental with the late Gov. Matias Hilado.