Santa Cruz is the oldest municipality in the province; it was founded on October 5, 1884, thirty-six years after the foundation of Davao, which is its mother city, by Don José Uyanguren of Guipúzcoa, Spain.

Over the following years, many locals submitted to Christianity [citation needed] and were conquered by Angel Rodriguez, the Spanish Governor-General of Davao.

[citation needed] Like Don Uyanguren's attempt to develop the newly established Davao, the area did not prosper for another two decades.

The town suffered greatly during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, unlike its neighbor Davao, which fared well and continued its economic growth during that time.

The local recognized guerrillas and the military troops of the Philippine Commonwealth Army units continued to attack the Imperial Japanese forces.

In 1945, combined Filipino and American troops including recognized guerrillas fought the Japanese and liberated the town.

The municipal mayor Joel Ray Lopez commented, "As the oldest town in the province of Davao del Sur, we really wanted it to become a city soon.

The rugged topography of the central area gradually undulates toward the coastal plains of the north-eastern, eastern and south-eastern parts.

Here, settlements sprawl contiguously along the coast of Davao Gulf under the vast monotony of coconut plantations.

Santa Cruz has a favorable climate all year round characterized by wet and dry seasons.

Fisheries: The 24-kilometer long coastline of Santa Cruz, which forms part of Davao Gulf, provides a rich fishing grounds and is suitable for aquaculture.

Mining: Deposits of sulfur ore, rock phosphate, guano, limestone and cement raw materials were also traced but still have to be tapped for commercial and industrial uses.

Other scenic spots include the Passig Islet Agro Eco Park and Tudaya Falls.