The word dumaguet, meaning "to swoop", was coined because of the area's frequent raids by Moro pirates and its power to attract and keep visitors, both local and foreign.

In 1572, Diego López Povedano indicated the place as Dananguet, but cartographer Pedro Murillo Velarde in 1734 already used the present name of Dumaguete for the settlement.

[8] They participated in a successful war against Chola-occupied Odtojonan in Borneo (The former homeland) as a constituent kingdom of Madja-as (the re-established nation).

Eventually, they allied themselves under the nearby Rajahnate of Cebu as the people of Dumaguete adopted the Cebuano language, culture, and customs.

Negros Occidental Province, which was still ruled by the Spanish authorities, eventually surrendered to the Negrense Revolutionary Forces after a battle on November 6.

The American era saw the allegiance of the Republic of Negros grow towards a collaborationist stance as a Pro-American Protectorate amidst the Philippine-American War.

[10][11][12] Imperial Japanese forces landed at Dumaguete on May 26, 1942, after the fall of the Philippines, and all of Negros Oriental Province surrendered shortly thereafter.

The local Negrense guerillas attacked the remaining Japanese officials and troops on August 6, 1945, and after their victory, they welcomed combined American and Filipino forces that formally liberated Negros Oriental.

According to journalist Crispin Maslog who was teaching at Silliman University at the time,[13] Dumaguete was one of the first cities in the country to learn about Marcos' declaration of martial law on September 23, 1972.

Elsewhere in the country, media outlets such as newspapers and broadcast stations had already been shut down, but DSYR was able to make the announcement before Information Secretary Francisco Tatad did at around noon.

[15]Dumaguete has a land area of 3,362 hectares (8,310 acres), situated on the plains of the southeastern coast of the large island of Negros, near the mouth of the Banica River.

The highest ground elevation is located at the boundary of the municipality of Valencia, about one hundred meters above mean sea level.

Northeast monsoon winds (amihan) bring cooler temperatures with little sometimes moderate rain to the city during late October until early March.

Southwest monsoon winds (habagat) usually bring overcast and rainy conditions from June to early October, but can also bring the hottest temperatures of the year due to the foehn effect; nevertheless, skies are usually clear that nights feel cool, having the widest temperature variation in a day at this time.

[19] The coastal environment, which includes seagrass meadows, acts as efficient carbon sinks that mitigate the effects of climate change.

With the completion of four lanes, the Metro Dumaguete Diversion Road helps decongest the traffic in the main thoroughfares of the central business district from the town of Sibulan down to Bacong.

[39] These growing industries have made Dumaguete the hub for shopping, education, finance, IT, commerce, lifestyle, and sports in the province of Negros Oriental.

The real estate industry in the city includes several constructions of condominiums, mixed-use development town centers, and massive horizontal housing projects.

Filinvest is set to develop the beach area for another vertical residential complex in the coastal barangay of Mangnao through its Futura Shores Dumaguete.

Joining the existing Dumaguete Business Park are the Lifestyle 8880 District, a commercial complex with hotel and convention center in Daro,[40] and the E.C.

Dumaguete is listed among Next Wave Cities in the country with over 30 IT, KPO and BPO locators, and has been described as a hub for Business Process Outsourcing and Information Technology.

[42][43]Data from the Department of Tourism show that Dumaguete, the province's main gateway, and Negros Oriental are listed among the top ten most visited tourist destinations in the country.

[44] Rizal Boulevard is known for its hotels, coffee shops, fine dining restaurants, and bars that were mostly converted from sugar mansions and prominent ancestral houses.

The St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral is known as the oldest stone church of Negros Island and the ecclesiastical seat of the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dumaguete.

[47] The National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Dumaguete LGU installed Eddie Romero's centennial bust by sculptor Frederic Caedo.

It was unveiled by Mayor Felipe Antonio B. Remollo, Joey Romero and NCCA Deputy Director Marichu Tellano at the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium.

Governor Manuel "Chaco" L. Sagarbarria signed the marker's Certificate of Transfer in the presence of Imee Marcos, Francis Tolentino, Mark Villar, Risa Hontiveros, Lito Lapid, Jinggoy Estrada, Irish Ambassador William John Carlos and Philippine Tour Operators Association who graced the historic event.

Kuh Ledesma, Silliman University Dance Troupe and Orchestra Sin Arco performed with others followed by the finale, Pyro Musical Competition at the Freedom Park.

The majority of activities are held in the Provincial Capitol and Ninoy Aquino Freedom Park with booths and local products either on display or for sale.

The Don Mariano Perdices Memorial Coliseum hosted the 2010 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Meet and 2013 Palarong Pambansa that was located in Dumaguete.