During the Portuguese colonial era, the name of the district was transformed, first into Macau and finally into Baucau.

An alternative name for the Baucau community is Wailia-Wailewa, meaning the "great water spring of Wai Lia".

Besides the staples rice and corn, Baucau produces beans, peanuts, sweet potatoes, copra, candlenut and manioc.

A shortage of transportation links and the unpredictability of energy availability stymie the development of emerging industries.

Bucoli, a village with symbolic role in the East Timorese resistance movement, is located in the subdistrict of Baucau.