Don Emilio Saravia, the first political-military governor in the island during the Spanish era, renamed the barrio and established it as a pueblo.

The number of inhabitants at the time was 1,100, living in the mountainous areas rather than the coast where the modern village is located.

With the help of Fathers Ángel Quintana, Juan Lorenzo, and Vicente Vázquez, all the towns of the coast from Guihulngan to Escalante were attended to.

Seeing the good results obtained, others joined in cultivating the land, modern machines were installed, and it became one of the most productive villages on the island.

[citation needed] During the first years of the American occupation of the Philippines, the economic and social pace of the activities of the people were gauged by the movements of the large landholders and Spaniards in the lowlands.

[9] In 1920, the municipality comprised the barrios Antabayan, Cubay, Euzcasa, Looc, Malalamban, San Juan, Santa Filomena, Sitio Banatic, Tigbon, and Varconia.

During the war, many men of the municipality volunteered to fight for the United States, but a few months later were sent back home because of the armistice.

A month after the surrender of Negros to the Japanese Imperial Forces, the guerrilla movement began in San Carlos and Calatrava.

As early as June 15, 1942, guerilla units under the leadership of Captain Eugenio Antonio, Jr. and Lieutenants Leonardo Marane and Alfredo Valdivia, assisted by Philippine Commonwealth Army soldiers, began operations against the Japanese.

Despite the presence of the U.S. forces under Major Edward McClenahan, separate guerrilla units were scattered in the area under different commanders as they were unable to effectively establish a formal chain-of-command among the different factions.

Upon the return of some local USAFFE officers to San Carlos, the guerrilla movement was formally organized into fighting units under USAFFE Captains Catalino D. Rivera, Eugenio Antonio, Jr. and Loreto Y. Apuhin Sr., and with Lieutenants Florencio C. Yap and Andres L. Arrogante, the bands of guerrillas in San Carlos were consolidated under one command.

[14] Eufronio Dolino, Juan Broce, Victorino G. Apuhin, Carlos Jones, Alfredo Rivera, Feliciano Gauzon Fermin de la Victoria and Hipolito Rigor were appointed Councilors of the city on June 10, 1946.

The city has a deep natural harbor protected from inclement weather by the island of Refugio, also known as Sipaway.

Poverty Incidence of San Carlos Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] Located in the city is San Carlos Solar Energy, owner of the SaCaSol I solar installation located in the north of the city, currently[when?]

Members of the San Carlos City Council (2022–2025): From 1899 to the last days of the administration of the municipality of San Carlos, the following persons have served as presidentes and mayors: The Pintaflores Festival was born out of the city's search for a cultural identity and tradition.

As part of the pintados tradition, the faces, arms, bodies and legs of the dancers are painted with flowers to express gratitude to man and his environment.

Represented by barangays II and Quezon, the Pintaflores street dancing contingent won first prize in Panaad Sa Negros in 1996.

In the 1998 Panaad sa Negros, the Pintaflores group composed of dancers from barangays Punao and Palampas and the City Hospital appeared in the fiesta presentation as guest performers.

In the 1999 festival the group, represented by elementary school children, continued its unbeatable streak by emerging champions, consequently reaping the Hall of Fame award for topping the fiesta presentation event in four consecutive years.

[citation needed] Award-winning actress Assunta de Rossi became a resident in the city when she married then congressman Jules Ledesma.

[citation needed] Reiven Bulado, an actor who played Ibo in the MMFF film Panaghoy sa Suba was born in San Carlos and attended high school at the Colegio de Santo Tomas – Recoletos.