The original chief inhabitants of the area were the indigenous Lumad tribes including the Matigsalugs and Tagakaulos.

More towns in the area are established later: Trinidad (now Jose Abad Santos) in 1948, Sta Maria in 1968, Don Marcelino in 1979, and Sarangani in 1980.

The law was passed by the House of Representatives and Senate on November 28, 2012, and December 5, 2012, respectively, and signed by President Benigno Aquino III on January 14, 2013.

Senator Bongbong Marcos, who sponsored the creation of Davao Occidental, said that the great distance of Digos, Davao del Sur's provincial capital, to other municipalities in the 2nd congressional district, were impairing the effective delivery of basic services, as well as access to provincial government offices.

[8] However, Davao del Sur Representative Marc Douglas Cagas considered the creation of the province as nothing more than gerrymandering and political convenience.

The Lumad natives only form a small part of the population and live in the more mountainous and forested areas of the province.

Rice farms are only limited to the few flat lands in the province due to its mountainous and thickly forested nature.

Buses, jeepneys and passenger vans that originate from and serve the cities of Davao and Digos are the main primary modes of transportation in the province.

Boats serve as the primary maritime mode of transportation for coastal areas not yet accessible by roads and the island municipality of Sarangani.