A bridge-causeway fixed link over Poro Island in the gateway town of Biliran connects the province to Leyte.

A contending theory states that the name came from the word bilir, which was defined in an old Visayan dictionary to be the "corner or edge of a boat, vase or anything protruding, like veins, or the furrow made by the plow."

[5] In May 1735, representative inhabitants of Leyte petitioned Governor-General Fernando Valdes y Tamon to allow them to resettle Biliran Island.

They claimed it had been abandoned for the past 50 years and was presently inhabited by bagamundos (vagabonds) due to the frequent Moro raids.

Panamao was reportedly razed to the ground and only the gobernadorcillo (mayor) of Biliran town escaped capture by the raiders.

[5] When the Muslim raiders were diminished in the early 19th century, Leytenians organized new towns in the present geography of Biliran Province.

Maripipi and the new towns of San Clemente (later Kawayan), Culaba and Esperanza (later Cabucgayan) were created around 1899 by the revolutionary government under President Emilio Aguinaldo.

[5] During the World War II, Biliran had its own guerrilla forces under the Leyte command of Colonel Ruperto Kangleon.

Aided by the local guerrilla forces, they attacked the Japanese troops on the island during the Battle of Biliran during World War II.

[6] Biliran has a total land area of 536.01 square kilometres (206.95 sq mi), making it the fourth smallest province in the Philippines.

The main volcanic island of Biliran features mountainous interiors with very narrow coastal areas.

Only the municipalities of Naval and Caibiran have wide plains extending about 7 km (4.3 mi) from the coast suitable for agriculture.

The only known historical volcanic activity at Biliran was a phreatic eruption and possible debris avalanche at a thermal area on September 26, 1939.

The largest among the towns in terms of land area is the provincial capital Naval, while the smallest is Maripipi.

Processed goods include white clay ceramics, dried fish, raw gulaman, and citronella oil.

The untapped natural resources of the island include geothermal power and the abundant sulfur and gypsum deposits.

Biliran has been eyed as an emerging destination for mountaineers, bikers, canyoneers, hikers, and other adventure seekers.