Ozamiz

Ozamiz (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Ozamiz, Filipino: Lungsod ng Ozamiz) is a third class city in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 131,527 people. Although City Resolution 251-05 officially spelled Ozamiz with a "z" as its last letter rather than with an "s", it is alternatively spelled as Ozamis.

Geography

Ozamiz is close to Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte provinces, while across the bay is Lanao del Norte. It is 45-minute drive from Oroquieta City, 30 mins drive from Tangub City, 20 mins drive from Tudela, less than 2 hrs drive from Pagadian City, 3 hrs drive from Dipolog City, Dapitan city and 4 hrs drive to Cagayan de Oro City. Lanao del Norte is only a 20 mins ferry ride across Panguil Bay. Ozamiz city is 52 kilometres (32 mi) from Maria Cristina Falls, the main source of hydroelectric power in Mindanao.

Barangays

Ozamiz City is politically subdivided into 51 barangays.

History

The city of Ozamiz grew out of an old Spanish town called Misamis—a name believed to have been derived from the Subanen word "Kuyamis," a variety of coconut. Other unverified historical sources, however, suggest that the name Misamis came from "Misa" after the Catholic Mass. The origin and the growth of the old Spanish town, Misamis, was due to the presence of the Spanish garrison stationed at the stone fort named Nuestra Senora dela Concepcion del Triunfo, which was constructed some time in the 18th century in order to control the pirate activities originating in the nearby Lanao area. In 1850, the town of Misamis became the capital of the District of Misamis.