When Captain Juan de Salcedo conquered the Ilocos in 1572, they found out that the people were already engaged in a brisk trade and commerce with the Japanese and the Chinese.

Diego de Soria who later became bishop expanded the mission or religious control to the hinterlands - extending as far as Pangasinan and to the Cagayan Valley.

In 1769, it was made again as an independent ministry under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Assumption in whose honor the name of the town was changed from Purok to Santa Maria.

During the second half of the eighteenth century, vigorous and active missions or "expeditions" were launched by the missionaries toward the hinterlands from Santa Maria.

Occasionally, the people of Pilar went down to the town of Santa Maria to market and in most visitas, they were instructed into the faith, baptized or received the Holy Sacraments.

In Santa Maria, mail is received from the North (from Narvacan) every Tuesday morning and those from Manila, through Santiago every Thursday noon.

Juan Cardaño, present (1850) parish priest who, with the help of the colonial government was able to realize any improvements of the town, including the construction of the irrigation system, after six years of work.

The inhabitants engaged in agriculture, lumbering and the women in weaving cotton cloth; some of which are sold in other places.By this time in 1850, Santa Maria had a population of 11,900, up from 10,908 in 1845.

During the great renovation of the convent in 1895, many of the inhabitants migrated to Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija to escape the forced labor and established a new community.

Henry Savage Landor, an English painter, writer and explorer who visited the Philippines in 1900, says: At Santa Maria a most picturesque church is to be found, reached on an imposing flight of steps.

There are a number of brick buildings, schoolhouses and office, which must have been very handsome but are tumbling down, the streets being in the absolute possession of sheeps, goats and hogs.

A great expanse of level land was now well-cultivated into paddy fields and across it is a road fifteen feet wide, well-metalled and with a sandy surface.

Barrios and homes were scattered all around the plain.When civil government was restored in Ilocos Sur under the American rule in 1901, Sinfroso Tamayo became its first president.

A report in 1902 describes Santa Maria as town along the coast of Ilocos Sur, Luzon, (with) several cart roads that led to the interior; a city that built and by way of historical note, adds that on December 3, 1900, 2,150 insurgents surrendered here, (and) took oath of allegiance to the United States.

Many of the people after this period migrated to the central plains of Luzon, Mindanao and to as far as Hawaii and California in the United States of America.

It is bordered by the municipality of Narvacan to the north, Pilar, Abra to the east and San Esteban and Burgos, Ilocos Sur to the south Santa Maria is politically subdivided into 33 barangays.

Santa Maria's economy remained docile for almost four decades, subsisting only with fair performance in the aquaculture and agricultural ventures with no new developments in-place to create job opportunities in the commercial sector.

The town is home to the Our Lady of the Assumption Church (Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The townspeople celebrate their patronal festival in honor of the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Assumption (more commonly known as Apo Baket) every August 15 and lasting for several days.

Pinsal Falls, considered as the largest and grandest waterfalls in Ilocos Region, are located in a narrow gorge in Barangay Baballasioan of Santa Maria.

Pinsal is a group of plunge and cascades waterfalls falling from a 300-ft wide irregular shaped river ledge the highest of which is a drop of about 85 feet (26 m).

A trip to Pinsal Falls is not complete without climbing the carved steps to the top where more natural pools are found, the biggest of which is the 'footprint of Angalo'.

This facility is not functional, the machine used to rotate the steel rope up to the upper station was submerged by waters coming from the pinsal falls.

The restoration is expected to be finished this December 2019 and to be turned over to the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia, Parish of Our Lady of the Assumption, and to the Local Government Unit of Sta.

One of the six dive spots being developed and promoted as an Eco-Tourism project by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur through the leadership of Gov.

This project aims to help grow tourism in the province, provide alternative livelihood to the coastal communities and reduce fishing pressures on these beautiful marine resources.

Highest peak and on this spot you will see the 180 degree view of the town of Santa Maria located in Barangay Pacang through hiking.

One day, Angalo and his wife Aran were at the what is today called Suso Beach in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur.

[22] In 2023 Easter Sunday, April 9, the heritage town led by Mayor Brigido C. Camarillo Jr. celebrated the week-long Balicucha Festival.

11 Balicucha and other agri-fishery products-inspired floats paraded in front of the World Heritage Site Santa Maria Church.