[3] The town is thought to be named after the "Binmaley" tribe, the original inhabitants of the area known for their fishing skills and agricultural practices.

Poverty incidence of Binmaley Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] The town is famous for its bangus (milkfish) aqua-culture, due to the existence of its numerous fishponds (pokok in the Pangasinan language).

However, because of constant siltation over the past several years from mine tailings upstream from Agno River (due to mine operations in neighboring Benguet Province), and the overuse of artificial fish feeds, the bangus industry has suffered from fishkill, fewer viable fishponds and lower harvests.

Current Government action is inadequate due to strong pressures from other competing commercial interests, not to mention fishfeed producers.

The Pangasinan word sigay broadly translates to harvest, or a time to gather the rich yields of the farm, the sea, the ponds and the rivers.

It also became famous throughout the Philippines for the outstanding academic achievements of students (and its distinctive corps of military cadets) from its Binmaley Catholic High School, especially when it was headed by a German priest, Fr.