Over the years, however, the municipality is gradually becoming more urbanized, as a result of local population growth and the expansion of nearby Cagayan de Oro, due to another wave of migrants from Luzon and Visayas in the area.

The municipality's name comes from the word "opo" (white gourd), one of the widely cultivated and most abundant crops among Visayans settlers from Bohol who migrated in the area prior to Spanish colonial period.

Since the end of Spanish colonial period, Opol started to grow as migrants from Luzon and Visayas as well as the Chinese and Indians flocked to the area seeking new life and various economic opportunities awaited them.

Visayans form the municipality's majority who descended from earlier migrants from Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and Negros Oriental long before Spanish colonial period.

The highway is a key inter-regional transport route and comprises an integral part of the Cagayan de Oro - Iligan Corridor Special Development Project.

This is a major infrastructure development initiative which is likely to result in significant economic growth for Opol, Misamis Oriental and the adjoining province of Lanao del Norte in coming years