Carles 5.59

Carles is a second class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the, it has a population of people.It is famous in Panay island for its rich fishing grounds. It is the northernmost municipality in the province and is from the provincial capital, Iloilo City, from Roxas City, and from Kalibo.HistorySettlers first arrived circa 1846 and cleared an area at Punta Bulakawe, north of the current poblacion. Following an influx of settlers from Aklan and Antique, the settlement fell under Pueblo de Pilar, Capiz. About 10 years later, the settlement was transferred to the lowland and renamed to Badiang.In 1860, the first attempt was made to convert the barrio into a municipality but the provincial government of Capiz refused. Because of this refusal, the town leaders petitioned the governor of Iloilo, Governor Jose Maria Carles, who approved the petition. On July 1, 1862, the new pueblo was inaugurated and renamed to Carles, in honor to the governor. First Gobernadorcillo was Alenjandro Buaya.In 1904, the town lost its status and became a barrio of Balasan. 16 years later however, on January 1, 1920, it was restored as an independent municipality, with Federico A. Ramos as the first Municipal President.