Brief History

The history of the municipality of Santa Maria, Pangasinan dates back in the year 1855, named after its patron saint, Virgin Mary, by a missionary, Santa Maria was formerly a barrio of the municipality of Tayug, Pangasinan. It became a town under the rule of a Captain up to 1863, but was fused to Tayug later because of its inability to maintain financial capability. In 1877, however, upon the application and granting of the inhabitants for separation from the mother town. Santa Maria became again a separate town under the rule of a certain Captain Eugenio Vinluan.

At the time of its founding. The town was not connected by any roads and street to other towns. It was then only inhabited by few adventurous Ilocanos and Negritos, who were farmers in occupation.

With the construction of more roads connecting the town to other municipalities and the more developed provinces and cities. Numerous industries and activities sprouted in the town that partially accounts for the increase of the town’s population.  Today, it has a population of 30,721 widely distributed in an area of 5,455.12 hectares in the town’s 23 barangays.