Pagadian City is a 1st class city in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines. It is the capital city of the province, and the regional center of the Zamboanga Peninsula. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 162,515 people in 28,027 households. It is nicknamed the "Little Hong Kong of the South.
Pagadian, a former barrio of the town of Labangan of the lone province of Zamboanga, became a municipality on March 23, 1937 through Executive Order 77 of the late President Manuel L. Quezon. Its ascendancy was due to the eager initiative of then Assemblyman Juan S. Alano. Hon. Jose Sanson was the first appointed mayor of Pagadian. After his brief tenure as town "Presidente", a regular election was held with the Hon. Francisco Consolacion becoming the first elected municipal mayor.
In 1942, entered from the Japanese forces in Pagadian.
In 1945, the Philippine liberation forces with the Filipino guerillas during the Battle of Pagadian by the attacked of the Japanese forces in the town of Pagadian during World War II.
Situated on the northeastern side of the region, Pagadian City is the gateway to Zamboanga del Sur, the largest province of Western Mindanao. It is also a point of entry to the cities of Ozamiz, Iligan and Cotabato. Its rolling terrain encompassing both commercial and residential districts, reminiscent of the famous Crown Colony, has earned for it the sobriquet Little Hongkong of the South. Pagadian City has a total land area of 331.6 square kilometers with 54 barangays.