According to a legend, set in pre-settlement Batac, a man fell into a deep hole while he was digging for the root crop "camangeg".

The first priest assigned to cathecize the natives of the community was Esteban Marin, an Augustinian who probably arrived in Batac in 1585.

It is said that the ethnic minority groups of Bangui and Nueva Era are the pre-Spanish descendants of early inhabitants of Batac.

On December 22, 2009, the cityhood law of Batac and 15 other municipalities regain its status as cities again after the court reversed its ruling on November 18, 2008.

On August 23, 2010, the court reinstated its ruling on November 18, 2008, causing Batac and 15 cities to become regular municipalities.

Finally, on February 15, 2011, Batac becomes a city again including the 15 municipalities declaring that the conversion to cityhood met all legal requirements.

The municipalities of Banna, Currimao, Paoay, Pinili, Sarrat, Marcos and San Nicolas form its boundaries.

Poverty incidence of Batac Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] The Batac City Public Market touted as one of the biggest in the region offers a wide array of goods – freshly picked local vegetables and fruits, handicrafts, tincrafts, pottery, native delicacies, chicharon, longganisa, wet market treats and many others.

The Delicia Center, located adjacent to the City Public Market, contains RTW shops, banks, appliance stores, farm supplies, pharmacies, groceries, a lottery outlet and many more.

A stone's throw away from the commercial complex are bakeshops and a local pizza house.The Marcos Museum and Mausoleum is situated in the city center.

His body was moved November 18, 2016 to Libingan ng mga Bayani (Cemetery of [the] Heroes) Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Other notable figures who hails from Batac include Gen. Artemio Ricarte, the Father of the Philippine Army and Msgr.

The Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) is a comprehensive institution of higher learning in the Ilocos Region.

MMSU's root anchored deep, its foundation is strong, and its beginnings all proven historical turning points as far back as the early 1900s.

Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel, Jr. - A Filipino politician and human rights lawyer during the Martial Law under Marcos administration, former mayor of Cagayan de Oro from 1980 to 1984; he traced his roots in the city through his mother who came from Batac, then a town at that time.