After sometime, some of them become discontented with the affairs of governing the sitio, went back to the original site of Mayoboc and again formed a settlement on an uphill portion, more suitable to guard against the Moro pirates.

As the sitio became more organized and seen an increase in population, it finally became a separate town from Gumaca on April 30, 1856, during the Governorship of Alcalde Mayor Don Candido Lopez y Diaz.

It is bordered by the municipalities of Catanauan and General Luna on the south, Macalelon on the south-west, Calauag on the north-east, Gumaca on the west, Buenavista and Guinayangan on the east.

Settlement areas in the municipality are highly scattered; population concentration is noticeable only within the poblacion, that is, the urban barangays of Burgos, Danlagan, Gomez, Magsaysay, Rizal, San Lorenzo Ruiz (Bocboc) and Talolong as well as the rural barangays of Mal-ay, Sugod, Pansol, Calantipayan, Manguisian, Del Pilar, Bebito, Canda Ibaba and Canda Ilaya which are traversed by the national highway.

Aldrin Ludovice Salipande (2022) reports that Inagta Lopenze is spoken in Villa Espina and nearby barangays in Lopez.

Growing around are natural materials for handicraft such as wild vines, buri, anahaw, tikiw, bamboo, cogon and talahib.

Several cottage industries exist in the locality such as bamboo furniture, bolo, baskets, rattan, anahaw and buri fan making, buntal and tikiw.

Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario Parish (est.1861) Lopez Sports Centre is noted for its cockfighting which is held every Sunday.

Several educational institutions operate in the town serving not only its citizens but also those coming from the Bondoc Peninsula and the Bicol Region.

The Quezon Provincial Training Center of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is also located in the town.