Ilocos Norte province

Ilocos Norte
Province
Province of Ilocos Norte
From top, left to right: Bangui Wind Farm, Sinking bell tower of Laoag, St. Augustine Church in Paoay, Patapat Viaduct in Pagudpud, Cape Bojeador Lighthouse in Burgos and La Paz Sand Dunes
Seal
Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 18°10′N 120°45′E / 18.17°N 120.75°E / 18.17; 120.75Coordinates: 18°10′N 120°45′E / 18.17°N 120.75°E / 18.17; 120.75
Country	Philippines
Region	Ilocos Region (Region I)
Founded	1818
Capital	Laoag
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Panlalawigan
• Governor	Imee Marcos (NP)
• Vice Governor	Angelo Barba (NP)
Area
• Total	3,467.89 km2 (1,338.96 sq mi)
Area rank	38th out of 81
Highest elevation (Mount Sicapoo)	2,354 m (7,723 ft)
Population (2015 census)
• Total	593,081
• Rank	48th out of 81
• Density	170/km2 (440/sq mi)
• Density rank	52th out of 81
Divisions
• Independent cities	0
• Component cities	2 Batac Laoag
• Municipalities	21 Adams Bacarra Badoc Bangui Banna Burgos Carasi Currimao Dingras Dumalneg Marcos Nueva Era Pagudpud Paoay Pasuquin Piddig Pinili San Nicolas Sarrat Solsona Vintar
• Barangays	557
• Districts	1st and 2nd districts of Ilocos Norte
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code	2900–2922
IDD : area code	+63 (0)77
ISO 3166 code	PH
Spoken languages	Ilocano Filipino English
Website	www.ilocosnorte.gov.ph

Ilocos Norte (Ilocano: Amianan nga Ilocos, Tagalog: Hilagang Ilocos) is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzón Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra to the southeast, and Ilocos Sur to the southwest. Ilocos Norte faces the West Philippine Sea to the west and the Luzon Strait to the north.

Ilocos Norte is noted for being the birthplace of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, who led an authoritarian rule over the country during the latter half of his incumbency. The Marcoses enjoy a modicum of popularity in the province. Ilocos Norte is also known as a northern tourist destination, being the location of Fort Ilocandia, an upper class hotel and beach resort famous among expatriates, and Pagudpud.

Many Ilocos residents have immigrated to Hawai'i in the early to mid 20th century.

Long before the arrival of the Spaniards, there already existed an extensive region (consisting of the present provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra and La Union) renowned for its gold mines. Merchants from Japan and China would often visit the area to trade gold with beads, ceramics and silk. The inhabitants of the region, believed to be of Malay origin, called their place samtoy, from sao mi toy, which literally meant "our language here"

In 1571, when the Spanish conquistadors had Manila more or less under their control, they began looking for new sites to conquer. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi's grandson, Juan de Salcedo, volunteered to lead one of these expeditions. Together with 8 armed boats and 45 men, the 22-year-old voyager headed north. On June 13, 1572, Salcedo and his men landed in present-day Vigan and then proceeded towards Laoag, Currimao and Badoc. As they sailed along the coast, they were surprised to see numerous sheltered coves (looc) where the locals lived in harmony. As a result, they named the region Ylocos and its people Ylocanos.