History
      In 1538, the eastern coast of Mindanao which included the present province of Surigao del Norte was visited by the Portuguese explorer Francisco de Castro, who found the place inhabited by the Caraga tribe who were believed to be of Visayan origin.
      The ancient district of Caraga, which was established in 1609, comprised all of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, the Northern part of Davao Oriental and Eastern Misamis Oriental.
      By the end of the Spanish rule in 1898, the two Agusan provinces were organized as a single politico-military comandancia named Butuan, within the administrative jurisdiction of Surigao.  In 1901, this comandancia became a sub-province of Surigao, and in 1907, Agusan became a separate province.
      It was on June 19, 1960, through Republic Act 2766 that Surigao province was divided to form Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte.