[1][2] Prior to the founding of Urdaneta as a municipality, its present-day Poblacion was initially settled by residents and families from Villasis, Santa Barbara and Manaoag by the close of the 17th century.

By mid-19th century, the continuous population growth prompted the residents to establish a new pueblo (municipality) which comprised parts of Asingan, Binalonan, Malasiqui, Manaoag, Mangaldan, Santa Barbara and Villasis.

A stone church was then built but was not finished due to its massive size and the town being relatively young.

Manrique also laid plans for the municipality and ordered the transfer of an old camarin which would serve as a house of worship, to the site where the first church of Urdaneta was later built.

[3][5][6] The Diocese of Urdaneta, along with Alaminos, was canonically erected on January 12, 1985, during the papacy of Pope John Paul II.