The past of this region also became the trading route between west and east and the spread of Christianity, Islam and belief or religion brought by Chinese merchants.

The word Minahasa is etymologically derived from the words Mina-Esa (Minaesa) or Maesa which means 'being one' or 'uniting', meaning hope to unite various sub-ethnic groups of Minahasa consisting of Tontemboan, Tombulu, Tonsea, Tolour (Tondano), Tonsawang, Ponosakan, Pasan and Bantik.

Archaeological research has revealed signs of human life in North Sulawesi from 30,000 years ago, based on evidence in the cave Liang Sarru on the island of Salibabu.

The wealth of Minahasa's natural resources made Manado a strategic port for European traders going to and from Maluku.

By the beginning of the 17th century the Dutch had overthrown the sultanate of Ternate, and began to gain influence from Spain and Portugal.

In 1677 the Dutch conquered the Sangir archipelago, two years later, Robert Padtbrugge, the governor of Maluku, visited Manado.

The missionary schools in Manado in 1881 were one of the first attempts of mass education in Indonesia, providing an opportunity for graduates to find employment in the civil service, military, and high positions in the Dutch East Indies government.

In 1947, some Manadonese formed a political movement of Twapro, short for Twaalfde Provincie (Twelfth Province) who appealed for formal integration of Minahasa into the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The appointment of Sam Ratulangi as the first governor of Sulawesi then succeeded in winning Minahasan support to the Republic of Indonesia.

In March 1957, Sulawesi military leaders held a confrontation with the central government, with demands for greater regional autonomy.

They called for more active development, a fairer distribution of taxes, assistance against Abdul Kahar Muzakkar's rebellion in South Sulawesi, and a central government cabinet headed by Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta in balance.

Fearful of southern dominance, Minahasan leaders declared their own North Sulawesi autonomous state in June 1957.

The possibility of foreign intervention prompted the central government to request military assistance from southern Sulawesi.

The Permesta forces were later removed from Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Sangihe Islands, and Morotai in Moluccas.

The United States then halted resistance, and in June 1958 central government forces landed in Minahasa.

The effects of the Sumatra and Sulawesi rebellions was ultimately counterproductive, with central government authority increasing while regional autonomy weakened, radical nationalism strengthened than pragmatic moderation, communist party power and Sukarno increased while Mohammad Hatta was weakened, with the establishing of Guided Democracy (Indonesian: Demokrasi Terpimpin) in 1958.

The position of the peninsula stretches from east to west with the northernmost regions are the Sangihe and Talaud Islands.

The structure of the land in North Sulawesi in the form of Latosol covering 531,000 ha (1,310,000 acres) spread in several areas, among others: Tagulandang, Tamako, Manganitu, Kendahe, Tabukan Utara, Esang, Pineleng, Tomohon, Tombariri, Airmadidi, Kakas, Eris, Kombi, Tareran, Passi, Modayag, Pinolocian and Bolaang.

Alluvial soil structure of 75,000 ha (190,000 acres) spread over several regions, including the Tabukan Tengah, Lirung, Likupang, Wori, Tombasian, Tenga, New Tompaso, Belang and Tondano.

Regosol soil structure covering 81,000 ha (200,000 acres) spread across several areas, among others, Klabat, Dua Saudara, Soputan and North Bitung, Dimembe, Airmadidi, Langowan, Tombasian, Tombatu and Tumpaan.

Soil structure andosol of 15,000 ha (37,000 acres), spread across several areas between: in Tomohon, Kawangkoan, Tompaso, Langowan, and Modoinding.

In general, the varieties of flora and fauna in North Sulawesi are similar to those in other parts of Indonesia, except for some animals not found in other areas such as Deer, Maleo, Taong, Mini Tarsius Spectrum in Bitung City Nature Reserve And Coelacanth off the coast of Manado.

Several types of famous marine fish and is one source of foreign exchange, among others: tuna, skipjack, yellow tail, lobsters, and others.

Most of the Christians in North Sulawesi adhere to Protestantism, while significant minority Roman Catholic communities also exist in Manado and Bitung.

The Bajau people are seafaring nomads who has migrated from the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines, due to the conflict in Mindanao.

English and Mandarin are widely understood in areas where there is a large tourism industry, such as the Bunaken National Park.

Following the separation of Central Sulawesi as a separate province in 1964, North Sulawesi was originally composed of four regencies (Indonesian: kabupaten) – Minahasa, Sangihe Talaud, Bolaang Mongondow and Gorontalo – and the independent cities (Indonesian: kotamadya) of Manado (preexisting) and Gorontalo.

[1] Proposals have been under consideration since 2013 by the People's Representative Council (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat or DPR) to create a separate Bolaang Mongondow Province.

The province now forms one of Indonesia's 84 national electoral districts to elect members to the People's Representative Council.

The North Sulawesi Electoral District consists of all of the 11 regencies and 4 cities in the province, and elects 6 members to the People's Representative Council.