31/05/2024
It is situated on the north shore of Lake Mainit in the north-eastern part of Mindanao. The word "mainit" literally means "hot". The other local term for "mainit" is "mapaso." Mainit is home to a hot spring, the Mapaso Wellness Resort frequented by locals and visitors from nearby towns and provinces. It is regarded that Mainit got its name from this hot sulfuric spring.
The first inhabitants of Mainit settled near Lake Mainit in what is now barangay San Isidro (formerly called "Daang Lungsod" or "Old Town"). It was believed that the constant harassment of pirates forced the original settlers to move to the present town site.
Mainit was established as a Barrio in 1904 under the Municipality of Placer. In 1906, it was transferred under the jurisdiction and reclassified as a Municipality of the Province of Agusan del Norte (owing to its proximity to the border of Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Norte). However, after six months, Mainit was returned to the Province of Surigao del Norte and its status was reverted to being a barangay of Placer. Mainit was finally reclassified into a separate municipality in Jan. 1, 1931 by virtue of Executive Order 290 dated December 27, 1930, signed by Governor-General Dwight F. Davis.
Two of Mainit's barangays were made into full-fledged municipalities: Tubod in 1958 and Alegria in 1968. Mainit currently has 21 Barangays.
Mainit got its name from the hot sulfuric spring which flows to the river the “Mapaso Hot Spring”. Mapaso literally is “hot”.
