[3] Formerly called Malukkit or Naluqui, meaning "a place of conflict/destruction", the name "Sanchez Mira" was given in honor of Manuel Sanchez Mira, a Spanish Brigadier General assigned in the Cagayan Valley who served as alcalde mayor of Cagayan.

Poverty Incidence of Sanchez Mira Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Sanchez Mira, belonging to the second legislative district of the province of Cagayan, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code.

The current Sanchez Mira Municipal Hall was built during the tenure of Mayor Napoleon Cabuyadao Sacramed.

The Schools Division of Cagayan governs the town's public education system.

The first Methodist high school in the Philippines, Thoburn Memorial Academy, was established in 1945, right after World War II, by Juan Agcaoili Aragones and his wife, Serapia Perdido Negre.