The fortified settlements were called "Idiang" and derived from the Ivatan word "Idi" or "Idian" which means home or hometown.

The Ivatan tribes who called the place home farmed, where soil permitted, and they fished.

They were also a boat-making and seafaring people, and they traded with neighboring Taiwan to the North and Cagayan to the South.

Inter-tribal hostilities (Arap du Tukon) or War on the Hill were common in those days but for men only.

Common law prohibited the harming of womenfolk who were the main providers of food in wartime.

According to church records, the first mass and baptism in the islands was celebrated in what is now Imnajbu in Uyugan.

In 1782, Spanish Governor-General Jose Basco y Vargas sent an expedition to formally get the consent of the Ivatans to become subjects of the King of Spain.

American public school system was introduced and general health and sanitation campaign was launched.

Uyugan is located at 20°21′N 121°56′E / 20.35°N 121.93°E / 20.35; 121.93 in the south-eastern part of Batan Island, bounded on the north by Mahatao, south by the Balintang Channel, east by the Philippine Sea, and west by Ivana.

The Uyugan town proper (Centro or Idi to the Isantoninos[clarification needed]) is 19 kilometres (12 mi) from Basco, the provincial capital.

The average (mean) annual air temperature is less than 10 °C (50 °F) in January, but it is much more changeable in north-eastern Uyugan (Imnajbu).

The government brought breeding bulls and the farmers moved to "mixed" farming on a small scale.

Today's Isantonino farmer still could barely feed his family due to antiquated methods of farming dictated mainly by the topography of the land that at best is unsuitable to agriculture.

Nevertheless, Uyugan was a leading producer of beef cattle and garlic prior to the global economy.

Uyugan, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Batanes, 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.