[5] The history of Cortes dates back to pre-Hispanic times – there already was a form of government way before the coming of the Spaniards.

The town was known as "Malabago" after its chief, who was a contemporary of King Lomod, otherwise known as Tamblot – the first Boholano to raise arms against the Spanish conquistadors.

The Malabago settlement was situated in the upland territory of the present day Cortes near the Abatan River while that of Tamblot was at barangay Viga in the lowlands of Antequera which stretches to the riverside valleys opposite that of Malabago beyond the present day Abatan Bridge.

The people of Malabago have a culture of their own and recorded their day-to-day activities in their own writing using unique characters which they carved out on a piece of bamboo using a knife called panggi or supok.

Malabago then was a farming community that cultivated the land and made rice paddies in the north and east lowlands.

The town was probably established in 1862 during the construction of the Catholic church with the settlements of Malabago, Pamingwitan and Dayhangan jointed into one and called "Pueblo de Cortes".

In less than a month, the whole province of Bohol was officially declared liberated on 25 May 1945, by Major General William H. Arnold, Commander of the Americal Division.

Located high up on a plateau, the town occupies a total land area of 27.32 square kilometres (10.5 sq mi).

Sand taken from the Abatan River, and which usually finds its way to construction sites in Tagbilaran, is likewise another source of income for the people of Cortes.

Flat-bottomed boats made of marine plywood carry the sand which has to be dug up from the river bed with waist-high waters – back-breaking work for those involved.

One major project is the development of the docking port, envisaged to be the starting point for cruises on the Abatan River, which flows through five towns.

The nine sources of water supply are now installed with automatic chlorinator injection system to insure the health of residents.

Bilibili Spring is another site envisioned for development by the local government for it will be the first stop of the proposed river cruise.