History of La Carlota

La Carlota used to be an agricultural settlement wherein settlers living are based on rice planting and making of tobacco. It was in 1856 when the village of Mampunay was known and later on the settlements were appointed with the name of barrio Simancas. The barrio was placed under the jurisdiction of the Valladolid municipality.

On July 23, 1864, the residents of San Enrique, Pontevedra and Simancas formed their own town and named it San Enrique. However, on October 15, 1869 a Royal Decree was issued making Pontevedra a parish and Simancas into a town. Then in 1871, the King of Spain issued another decree changing the name Simancas town to La Carlota. On December 4, 1876, a Royal Order was again issued creating La Carlota into a parish.

Eventually the town grew rapidly as more settlers came in to work and develop the forested lands that continued for the next 20 years. In 1880, Don Teodoro Guerra at Hacienda Caiñaman built the very first Muscovado Sugar Mill in La Carlota that paved way for the creation of Sugar Mills, two Hydraulic Mills, and eight steam engines. The growth resulted in creating LA GRANJA'S AGRICOLAS on November 15, 1881, appointing La Carlota as an agricultural model farm. It was only on July 8, 1884, that the decree was promulgated and La Granja in barrio Cubay, La Carlota was opened.

In 1890 to 1986 a revolutionary uprise against Spain was formed and established. It was also during these years that Negros Island was divided into Negros Occidental and Oriental. Then in the years 1901 to 1906, La Carlota figured again a revolution against the Americans operating in the district of La Carlota, Isabela, Kabankalan and La Castellana. A few years later Central Azucarera de La Carlota was constructed. In 1934 the seat of the local government was constructed, followed by the very first high school building and the biggest Carnival Fair was held. Various events were held that resulted to the creation of La Carlota into a chartered City on June 19, 1965 by virtue of Republic Act No. 4585. From a scattered settlement, La Carlota City became one of the major sugar producing cities in the Philippines.