The province of Nueva Vizcaya derived its name from the province of Vizcaya in the Basque Autonomous Region of Northern Spain. Nueva Vizcaya was originally a part of the province of Cagayan. On May 24, 1839, an order was issued transforming Nueva Vizcaya into a politico-militar province. Governor-General Luis Lardizabal, upon the advice of the alcalde mayor of Cagayan, issued an order making Nueva Vizcaya a separate politico-military province. The king of Spain through a Royal Decree approved the order on April 10, 1841. Gov. Pedro Menchaca was the first appointed politico-military governor of the new province. However, the Spanish sovereignty ceased upon the arrival of the Philippine revolutionary forces in Bayombong on August 1898. 

It was a river valley surrounded on three sides by the Sierra Madre, Caraballo and Cordillera Mountains. People who originally inhabited the area were the Gaddangs, Ifugaos, Igorots, Ibalois, Yogads and Ilongots whose ferocious nature discouraged intrusions into their respective domains.

Despite their resistance to the Spanish rule, the Spaniards’ presence in the valley lasted until 1897. During the Philippine-American War, Nueva Vizcaya played a minor role. Wishing to be left alone, Novo Vizcayanos did not welcome the Americans or Aguinaldo’s troops. On January 28, 1902, by Act No. 337, the Philippine Commission formally created Nueva Vizcaya as a special Province. The first American governor appointed to the new Special Province was L.E. Bennett.

The province had its first taste of civil government in 1902 when the Philippine Commission organized it. The present territory of Nueva Vizcaya was a result of the changes emanating from the formal creation of the province of Isabela in May 1865, wherein a great portion of its northern territory was ceded to the newly born province. The organization of the Ifugao province in 1908 further reduced the area of Nueva Vizcaya. The survey executed by the Bureau of Lands and the enactment of the Administrative Code in 1914 and 1917 respectively retrenched the province’s scope. In addition, the Republic Act No. 6394 in 1971 made Quirino a regular province further reducing the territory of the province. 

Since its birth as a province, its history could still be reflected from the culture and customs of the early settlers, i.e.,Ilongots, Igorots, ifugaos, Isinais and the Gaddangs. The influx of civilization and the infusion of modern technology to the life stream of the province induced many settlers from adjacent provinces primarily the Ilocanos, Tagalogs, Pangasinenses and the Kapampampangans to migrate here.

Today, Nueva Vizcaya stands strong and is proudly transforming into a fast developing province with its fifteen municipalities, viz: Alfonso Castañeda, Ambaguio, Aritao, Bagabag, Bambang, Bayombong, Diadi, Dupax del Sur, Dupax del Norte, Kayapa, Kasibu, Quezon, Solano, Sta. Fe and Villaverde.

The original inhabitants of Nueva Vizcaya were wild and semi-wild tribes. The wild tribes were the Igorots, Ifugaos, Ilongots and the Aetas. The semi-wild tribe includes the Gaddangs and the Maalats. The former led a nomadic life and roamed over the Cordillera, Ilongots Regions and Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges. The latter pursued a semi-nomadic existence along the river valleys and plains through hunting, fishing and cultivating of rice and sweet potatoes.

Endowed with rich natural resources, particularly in agriculture, the province attracts other tribes from other regions of the country. Among the migrants who form a big portion of the population are the Ilocanos, Tagalogs, Pangasinenses, Pampangos and others.