History

The first settlement that formed in the mouth of a river was called Malihaw, a name taken from a species of trees that were abundantly growing in the place. Malihaw became a barrio of Saravia (now EB Magalona)  before 1880 the leader named Tomas was held as Teniente del Barrio; and then at later years it became a pueblo or town with Gregorio Conlu as the first ever called the Gobernacillo, married to Faustina Gosiaco also known as Capitana Tutang.  The name of Malihaw was changed by Father Casimiro Hinolan in honor to their patron Saint Nuestra Senora de las Victorias.In the early 1900s, Alejandro Acuña Yap Quiña, a Philanthropist of Chinese ancestry, donated 20 hectares of his landholdings to the Municipality of Victorias which eventually became the present town site.

The official transfer of the seat of government from the old poblacion (now called) Daan Banwa (formerly Malihaw), was made on October 31, 1907 when the municipal building was blessed and inaugurated.  Republic Act 8488 Converted the Municipality of Victorias into a Component City of Negros Occidental and renamed it the City of Victorias. It was signed into law by President Fidel V. Ramos on February 11, 1998 at Malacañan Palace, witnessed by Hon. Mayor Severo Acuña Palanca, key officials and members of the Senate and the House of Congress. March 21 of the same year saw the ratification of R.A. 8488 with a resounding YES vote (15,985). Every year henceafter, the City celebrates the Kadalag-an Festival on March 21 while the City Fiesta,

Halaran Festival is celebrated on April 26th, the Feast Day of Nuestra Señora de las VictoriasThe City of Victorias has a sloping and rolling terrain. The steeply descending hills from Barangay Gawahon gradually level off as they approach San Jose Estado, thus forming some sort of a plateau. Rolling hills can also be found in Hacienda Maria and Nasipunan. There is a forest glade at the northeast end of Mt. Silay with deep rivers, streams and creeks.

Geography

The land pattern of the city as a whole has plenty of sloping land in mid-section going toward the mountains. The terrain from Barangay Gawahon down to Hacienda Teson is sloping with steep ascent, but from San Jose Estado it is plain and forming a sort of plateau. The City proper site is very impressive. The lay of the land can be appreciated as you walk along Osmeña Avenue (a portion of the national highway) formerly called Calle Real. The newly developed city plaza which is reputed to be one of the most beautiful (plaza) in Negros Occidental, features a skating rink, SK Pavillion, Senior Citizens Pavillion and the children’s playground. The flowering plants such as anthuriums, roses, the verdant vegetation and manicured landscape are meticulously cared for by staff of the Victorias City Plaza Development Authority directed by its President, Mrs. Remedios P. Bantug, now City Mayor of Victorias.

Predominant rolling hills where the present renovated city hall now stands are bounded in the north by the winding Magnanud River and in the south by the Guinpana-an Creek. The city is composed of valleys, rolling hills and the ever present small streams and rivers that wind along the vast sugarcane plantations. While the southern portion enjoys humus sandy loan soil because of the flat terrain, the northern portion of the city is hilly and has a sticky Guinbala-on clay soil. Fortunately, these types of soil are suited for sugarcane plantation. In 1990, the NSO reported a total population of 69,892, then Municipality of Victorias with the annual growth rate of 2.2%. The preliminary report of the 1995 Census of Population reported 77,558 which resulted to a reduction in the annual growth rate to 2.1% assuming that the annual growth rate will remain at 2.2%, its population will reach 96,870 in the year 2005.

The city work force is composed mostly of professionals, skilled and unskilled labor including sugarcane workers. Some are employed in offices and industries while others are self-employed. Of this group, a good number is working abroad. Some of the city overseas workers are semi-skilled and have developed themselves through hard work and experience. As a whole, the combined population of the city is 78,283 (1995 Census) and the average density of the city is 5:21 persons/hectare. Population distribution by mother tongue a total of 68,689 persons (about 98%) in the city has been reported to speak Ilonggo;ollowed by Cebuano (1.13%) and Tagalog (0.32%). Other anguages/dialects are Aklanon, Waray, Chinese, Chavacano, Maranao and others.