[3] "Samboangan" is well-attested in Spanish,[4] British,[5][6] French,[7][8] German,[9] and American[10] historical records from as far back as the 17th century.

[15] Together with the original settlers, these pioneers helped develop Zamboanga del Sur into the abundant and culturally diverse province that it is..

[18][19][20] The late 1960s in Mindanao saw a rise in land dispute conflicts arising from the influx of settlers from Luzon and Visayas,[21][22] and from the Marcos administration’s encouragement of militia groups such as the Ilaga.

[17] The September 1972 declaration of Martial Law began a 14-year period historically remembered for its human rights abuses,[24][25] often involving the warrantless detention, murder, and physical, sexual, or mental torture of political opponents, student activists, journalists, religious workers, farmers, and others who fought against the Marcos dictatorship.

Days later, two more men from the community were picked up and killed, and a few months later, the residence of Bayog's Jesuit parish priest was strafed after he had written letters decrying the torture and harassment of the indigenous Subanon people from his parish, whom government had tagged as communist supporters.

[30] Political developments in February 2001 saw another major change in the territorial jurisdiction of Zamboanga del Sur.

[32] The province is bordered on the north by Zamboanga del Norte, west by Zamboanga Sibugay, northeast by Misamis Occidental, east by Lanao del Norte, southeast by Illana Bay, and south by the Moro Gulf.

Stretching northward from Sibugay in the southwest and running along the northern boundary to Salug Valley in the east is the province’s mountainous countryside.

When Zamboanga City is included for statistical purposes, the province's population is 2,027,902 people, with a density of 317/km2 (820/sq mi).

Minority languages include Maguindanaon, Subanen, Tausug, Maranao, and Iranun as well as Hiligaynon, Ibanag, Ilocano, Kapampangan, Pangasinan and Waray.

Poverty Incidence of Zamboanga del Sur Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] The economy is predominantly agricultural.

Products include coco oil, livestock feed milling, rice/corn milling, including the processing of fruits, gifts and housewares made from indigenous materials like handmade paper, roots, rattan, buri, and bamboo; wood-based manufacture of furniture and furniture components from wood, rattan, and bamboo; marine and aquaculture including support services; construction services and manufacture of marble, concrete, and wooden construction materials.