Government district offices are all located in the city, which supports more than 100,000 residents in terms of commercial and industrial services.

Folk belief is that during Spanish times, powerful chieftains of the area held a cañao (a social and religious community gathering) and staged a wrestling contest called gabbu.

This was to decide who was to marry Ineng, daughter of the most powerful chieftain Madal-ang, and thus be the ageing ruler's heir apparent.

During the nuptials a group of Spaniards, including Captain Juan de Salcedo, passed by and asked what was going on.

Another theory is that the city was named after the town of Candón in the southwest Spanish provincia of Huelva, in the autonomous community of Andalusia.

Madal-ang chose to live under a large tree in the center of the village, under which the people would gather to exchange pleasantries and barter.

When Spanish colonizers came in the 16th century, friars ordered the tree cut down and its wood used to build the first Catholic church in the area.

In 1780, the village became a municipality, and under Spanish rule Candon was quickly overridden by rich Spaniards, who employed the natives in conditions of near-slavery.

On March 25, 1898, a revolutionary government was declared and launched an attack on Spanish forces, which retook Candon in two days later.

However, the Japanese Soldiers retaliated back by burning the whole town in January 1942, which is considered the greatest event that ever happened in the history of Candon.

[6] In the Charter of Candon City, Candon applied to become the second city in the Province of Ilocos Sur so it can undertake government programs with additional funding from the national government to benefit the people in the field of social services, economic growth, peace and order, health, education, agriculture and infrastructure development.

Like the "Kandong" tree of yore, Candon is just beginning to spread out its branches to reach out for the skies in its own bid to become the next city in Ilocos Sur.

Owing to the merits and qualifications of Candon as the leading town in Southern Ilocos Sur, the bill easily got the approval of the Committees on Local Government in both House of Representatives and in the Senate.

Until recently the aspiration for Candon to become a city remained a dream, but its destiny inevitable when the counterpart Senate Bill No.

It is bordered by Santiago, Banayoyo, Lidlidda, and San Emilio to the north, Galimuyod to the northeast, Salcedo to the west, and Santa Lucia to the south.

- The city hosts various religious events and festivals throughout the year, attracting devotees and tourists alike.

Poverty incidence of Candon Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Candon City has a geographical setting and proximity to the national highway and other towns that encouraged greater mobility in terms of trade, economic, social and cultural activities.

On the other hand, cottage industries include balut egg production, fish re-drying, salt making, native delicacies, woodcraft and handicraft.

There are also video centers, bazaars, gift shops, pawnshops and mineral/distilled drinking water store outlets, and real estate.

Urban growth has a linear pattern along major thoroughfares in the city center and the national highway.

Mini-Buses provide short trips to neighboring municipalities and the nearby cities of Vigan and San Fernando, La Union.