[6] Located on Lingayen Gulf on the northwest-central part of Luzon, Dagupan is a major commercial and financial center north of Manila.

[10] The city is situated within the fertile Agno River Valley and is in turn a part of the larger Central Luzon plain.

[11] Dagupan is administratively and politically independent from the provincial government of Pangasinan and is only represented by the province's legislative district.

By the 15th century, Pangasinan was an ancient coastal region composed of various settlements, whose paramount leaders sent emissaries to China in 1406–1411.

On January 8–9, 1945, U.S. General Douglas MacArthur landed his amphibious liberation force in the city's "Blue Beach" section in Bonuan Gueset along the shores of Lingayen Gulf.

Local historian Restituto Basa surmised that the name Lucao may have been derived from the shellfish called lukan that used to abound in the swampy area.

[citation needed] In June 1962, Dagupan was shaken by a series of strong earthquakes which occurred at irregular intervals for about three weeks.

[citation needed] In 1968, the national government agencies opened offices in Dagupan and other key cities across the country.

The daytime population increased substantially, causing congestion in the city that began to see the appearance of public utility tricycles and other modes of transportation.

On July 16, 1990, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck northern Luzon, causing liquefaction, which made buildings tilt and sink due to their heavy weight and the looseness of the ground, which turned into sediment-rich mud.

Major damage caused businesses to be permanently transferred to the neighbouring towns of Mangaldan and Calasiao, but somehow, Dagupan and its inhabitants managed to recover from the earthquake.

[21] Dagupan covers a total land area of 4,447.10 hectares (10,989.0 acres), bounded by Lingayen Gulf in the north, San Fabian in the northeast, Mangaldan in the east, Calasiao in the south and Binmaley in the west.

[29][30] Number of Registered Voters (2016): 105,183[22] Pangasinan is predominantly used in the city and environs, followed by Tagalog and English, as well as Ilocano, mainly in Calmay and Pantal.

Beginning in the 19th century, some of the salt making operations gave way to pond culture of fish, most prominently, the milkfish (locally known as bangus), for which the city has become famous.

[46] Being at the center of trade in the north for centuries blessed with a geography crisscrossed by several rivers and sandy beaches, Dagupan has naturally become a multifaceted city in terms of tourism.

[51] These include: • Home Economics/Gabaldon Building at West Central Elementary School • Old City Hall and Water Tower • Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John • Philippine National Railways Tracks and Station • Remnants of Franklin Bridge • Lighthouse in Bonuan Aside from being the Bangus Capital of the Philippines, the city is also known as the Kitchen of the North.

Plato Wraps, a contemporary food innovation that's now popularly sold in major shopping malls also hails from the city.

The extensive Tondaligan baywalk, dubbed as the longest in the region, is a prominent feature along the Bonuan shore wherein cyclists can enjoy biking and savor Lingayen Gulf's picturesque view.

The festival features the famous bangusine (bangus cuisine) which is one of the main highlights of the event, street dancing where competing barangays parade in the city's main avenue wearing colorful Bangus Festival costumes, bangus grilling, deboning, variety shows, trade fairs, beauty pageants, sports fest, cooking show, medical mission, visual arts, band concerts, sports activities, dog show, fluvial parade, drum and lyre parade, and street party.

The festival concludes every April 30 with main events: Kalutan ed Dalan in the daytime and Bangusan Street Party concerts in the nighttime.

Intercity/interprovincial buses from Manila serve the city, and are usually operated by Dagupan Bus Company, Victory Liner, Five Star, and Pangasinan Solid North.

Twenty radio broadcasting stations (9 AM and 11 FM), at least seventeen local newspapers and three cable television companies operate in the city.

Daily flagship regional news over free TV is served by One North Central Luzon (formerly Balitang Amianan) via GMA Dagupan Station.