The Municipality of Dingras was established in 1598 and its name continuous to be the same as it originally had. The records of the Agustinian Friars show that Dingras was founded in the name of Saint Joseph, its Patron Saint.

Dingras was one of the earliest settlement in the solid Province of Ilocos Norte before it was divided into Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur in 1819 by the royal Cedula on February 2, 1818. It was preceded only by the town of Batac Founded in 1580, San Nicolas founded in 1584, Laoag founded in 1585, Paoay founded in 1593 and Bacarra founded in 1594.

After founding of Dingras in 1598, the other Municipalities of Ilocos Norte were established including Badoc in 1714. Sarrat and Vintar in 1724 and Piddig in 1775. The Municipalities of Piddig, Espiritu, Solsona and Marcos were carved out of Dingras.

The Municipality of Dingras had Long had long been known as the Rice Granary of the Province of Ilocos Norte. The Agustinian mission in 1851 reported that its soil was the most fertile and most productive in the Province. Among other products raised in the farm were corn, mungo, garlic, a variety of vegetables, sugar cane, lemons, and bananas of several classes, tobacco and multitude of fruits of superior quality. The terrain in the central part is predominantly a flat low land of approximately five to ten meters above sea level. The total land area of the municipality 17,962 hectares, which ranks 8th in size among the 23 municipalities including Laoag City. It accounts practically 5.20% of total land area of Ilocos Norte. The Municipality area composed of 31 Barangays with total population of 39, 094.

Who Found Dingras

Dingras was settled in 1598. When Captain Juan de Salcedo was going north in his expedition of conquest, he stopped in what is now the town of Laoag. He found the natives wearing necklaces, bracelets, and trinkets of gold. He also found out gold dust among their articles of trade. This surprised the captain and he inquired for the source of their wealth. He was told that some twenty kilometers to the east of Laoag there was a region where gold was as abundant as the leaves of trees.

The news interested the captain but history failed to record whether or not Salcedo could reach the region which to him must seemed fabulous, or whether or not there was really gold. The people who had been attracted to the place by the news of gold have been sadly disappointed to find that there was little or no truth to the report. Instead of retracting their steps, however they at once diverted their attention from the gold and began to make settlements. They began to build homes and tilled the soil and raised rice, corn, camote and other products. Soon, more intelligent wave immigrating people came. More lands were cleared and much wider areas were cultivated until it became a prosperous settlement.

Origin of its Name

The town has an interesting legend as the origin of its name. In the early times there were two prosperous barangays in the present site of the town. Each was ruled by a powerful chief or datu. They were bitter and mortal enemies. Naslag was the powerful chief of the barangay north of the river, and Allawigan was the chief of the barangay south of the river.

One day Allawigan and his warriors went to hunt. RAS, his son was the bravest among them. During the hunt, RAS followed the deer that went north across the river. While he was watching the fleeing deer, he saw a beautiful damsel gathering wild flowers on the opposite of the bank. She was the daughter of Naslag. Her name was DING. To help the lady, RAS gathered the most beautiful flowers near him, put them at the end of his arrow and shot near the lady’s foot.  DING looked at the opposite bank of the river waving her hands. RAS went home happily.

RAS begged his father for permission to win DING for his wife. But because of the father of DING and RAS were bitter enemies, he could only win her in an open battle which was fought between the two tribes. RAS led his father’s warrior. They fought valiantly and came out victorious in the end. RAS asked for DING as a prize but NASLAG in single combat with DING as a prize. The challenge was accepted. The combat was fought and RAS was victorious. He brought DING triumphantly to Allawigan, his father. They named the two barangays, DINGRAS, after RAS, their valiant warrior and ruler, and DINg, his beautiful wife.

First Inhabitants

It is said  that the first people of the place were of Indonesian origin. Later, the civilized Malays occupied the northern sides of the river and moved southward to occupy Naguillan which called Bagut. As settlers increased in number, they moved eastward to occupy the barangay now known as Cacafean and Matantanobog.

About the end of the 18th century, these ethnic groups were raided by the Christian from the lowlands. Among their brave warriors were, Onze, Angin, Langao Dugguing. These leaders lead their warriors in many furious battles, however, they where defeated because of their inferiority, both in numbers and in numbers. Thus, more immigrants occupied the lowlands and the ethnic people retreated to the mountains where their descendants can be located up to now.

The last group to occupy the area were civilized Malays who drove away the Indonesians. The latest immigrants were from Sarrat, Piddig, San Nicolas; others came from Ilocos Sur, Abra and La Union.

Historical Edifices: A Part of the Town’s Establishment

The encomienda system is the form of government commissioned by the Spanish Governor General throughout the foundation of the early established municipalities by Spanish colonizers. This system began in Spain. Originally, encomiendas were assigned to religious orders, charitable groups and Spaniards. The assignment of the grant carried the right to collect tribute from the natives living within the boundaries of the grant. Spaniards were assigned land grants as a reward for their services rendered to the crown. The appointed encomenderos in obedience to the order must have to order it

Along the encomendero system, construction of churches within the town must built at the center of the community. Near it a plaza was laid out. Surroundings the public square were stone houses of the Spanish residents and the principalia. All the natives were also prevailed to built their houses not far from church.