Bicolanos from Albay, Sorsogon and nearby provinces and Tagalogs from the Bondoc Peninsula are considered as the first settlers of Burias Island.

Their original settlement, called Matandang Nayon ("Old Village"), was founded near the bank of the Siargao River.

In 1898 during the Philippine Revolution, Barrio Visita became a town and officially adopted the name Claveria, with Arcadio Sabaulan as Presidente Municipal.

Three years later, in 1901, a cholera epidemic severely affected the municipality, resulting in a large population decrease.

September 5, 1959, was inauguration day, and Councilor Alfredo Alim was appointed Municipal mayor, also winning this position during the first local election in November of that year.