The city of Ozamiz grew out of an old Spanish town called Misamis—a name believed to have been derived from the Subanen word kuyamis, a variety of coconut.

Other unverified historical sources, however, suggest that the name Misamis came from the Spanish word Misa (Catholic Mass).

The fort was constructed some time in 1756 in order to attempt to combat the pirate activities originating in the nearby Lanao area.

During the American occupation, the territory was reduced when Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison issued Executive Order No.

[8] In October 1942, Wendell Fertig established the command headquarters of the growing guerrilla resistance to the Japanese occupation of Mindanao in the Spanish fort in the city.

[10][11] On July 30, 2017, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Ozamiz City Police raided the house of incumbent Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. where guns were allegedly stored, resulting in the deaths of 16 people, including Mayor Parojinog, his wife Susan, and two of his siblings.

This incident was part of the War on Drugs campaign during President Rodrigo Duterte's administration.

Ozamiz is 52 kilometers (32 mi) from Maria Cristina Falls, the main source of hydroelectric power in Mindanao.

Ozamiz's Charter Day anniversary, the feast of Nuestra Señora dela Inmaculada Concepcion y del Triunfo dela Cruz de Migpangi, and the Perangat Festival (formerly known as the Subayan Keg Subanon Festival) are celebrated on July 16.

There are four great bells at the top of Bukagan Hill, named "St. Peter", "St. Marien", "St. Joseph", and "St. Michael".

Given the recent costs of installing an organ at the cathedral, it was commonly thought that the installation of the bells would prove too expensive but, through the efforts of then City Mayor Fernando T. Bernad and Jesus Y. Varela, the bells were finally given a place at Bukagan Hill, and were officially inaugurated on July 16, 1948.

The garden features a variety local and imported tropical flowers, plants, and fruit trees.

The hotel has fully air-conditioned private rooms, and is home to a variety of amenities, including function halls, a tennis court, a ceramics shop, and swimming pools.

It was Father Sean Lavery, an Irish-Columbian priest in charge of music at the cathedral, who first thought of the idea of an organ at Immaculate Conception.

Father Schatblitzki visited Ozamiz to take measurements to give to the organ builders back in Germany.

The inability of the airport to accommodate jet planes due to its short runway led to its closure.

For interprovincial transportation, Rural Transit, Super Five, UV Express, and public utility jeepneys like Lotradisco are predominantly used.