Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental

Tagoloan was among the five visitas established by the Recollect missionaries in Cagaiang (Cagayan de Oro's former name) in 1674.^[6] Through Act No. 951, issued by the Philippine Commission on October 21, 1903, which reduced the number of municipalities in the then-undivided Misamis from 24 to 10, the territories of Santa Ana and Agusan, excluding Barrio Gusa which became part of Cagayan, joined with Tagoloan.^[7] When Cagayan was converted into a city, renamed Cagayan de Oro, in 1950, barrios Agusan, Alae, and Bogo were transferred from this municipality.^[8]

Imperial Japanese forces of the Kawamura Detachment from Panay began landing on Cagayan de Misamis and Tagoloan on 3 May 1942. The town was liberated on 10 May 1945 after the Allied forces land on Cagayan de Misamis.^{[citation needed]}

Tagoloan is about 19 kilometres (12 mi) from the provincial capital, Cagayan de Oro.

Tagoloan total land area of 7,938 hectares represents 2.24 percent of Misamis Oriental's total area of 354,770 hectares. Among the barangays, Sta Ana is the largest, comprising 37 percent of the municipality's land area. Barangays Rosario, which includes contested areas between Municipality of Tagoloan and Municipality of Malitbog, Bukidnon and Sta Cruz, occupy relatively bigger areas (11.2%) than the other nine barangays.

The land area of Tagoloan is suitable for six major uses, which include protection forest, plantation forest, rice, tree and vine, pasture and cultivated crops. About 2,405 hectares or 30 percent of Tagoloan's total area are suitable for forest uses. Rice land is suitable for 2,199 hectares or about 28 percent, while the cultivation of annual crops are suited for 2,024 hectares or about 25 percent.^[9]

Tagoloan River that is located beside Barangay Poblacion is the 13th largest river system in the Philippines.

Tagoloan is politically subdivided into 10 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Note: Barangay Rosario includes contested areas between the Municipalities of Tagoloan and Malitbog, Bukidnon, equal to 658.5 hectares (1,627 acres).

Landmarks found here are the following:

• MCT – Mindanao Container Port, located in Casinglot, Tagoloan
• FDC – First Distribution Corporation, located in Sihayun, Tagoloan
• MDC – Mindanao Distribution Center of Fast Services Corporation, located in Natumolan, Tagoloan
• CDC – Cagayan Distribution Center of Fast Services Corporation, located in Casinglot, Tagoloan

In the 2024 census, the population of Tagoloan was 80,424 people,^[16] with a density of 680 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,800 inhabitants per square mile.

Majority or about 80% of the people in Tagoloan are Roman Catholic Christians. The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, also known as the Tagoloan Church, is situated beside St. Mary's Academy of Tagoloan and fronting Tagoloan Plaza. The current parish priest is Rev. Fr. Enerio Tacastacas and his assistant vicar is Rev. Fr. Vincente Cervantes. The image commemorates the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. Its feast is on February 2.

Like the rest of Misamis Oriental, Higaonons are among Tagoloan's native ethnolinguistic inhabitants. The majority of the municipality's residents, however, speak Cebuano as its main language, brought by Visayan settlers from Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and Negros Oriental. Being bordered by Cagayan de Oro from its west, Tagoloan has becoming urbanized due to the massive influx of migrants from Luzon and other parts of Visayas, with many of whom had already settled in Cagayan de Oro had soon found its new home in the municipality since postwar or early 1950's, making Higaonons a minority in their own homeland but resulting from local population growth and the expansion of nearby Cagayan de Oro. These newcomers consisted of Bicolanos, Hiligaynons, Ilocanos, Kapampangans and Tagalogs seeking new and better life and various economic opportunities in Tagoloan had assimilated to and intermarried with the local population, both native Higaonons and earlier Visayan settlers alike. Alongside Cebuano, Tagalog and English are also spoken and used in business and government affairs. Other languages spoken varyingly include the indigenous Higaonon, as well as Bicolano, Hiligaynon, Ilocano and Kapampangan.