San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
' (Ilocano: "Ili ti San Nicolas"; Filipino: "Bayan ng San Nicolas"), officially the ', is a in the province of , . According to the , it has a population of people. Etymology. The present name of San Nicolas was given in the year 1733, after Saint Nicholas de Tolentino who was believed to have protected the people against floods, earthquakes, fires, typhoons and other calamities. It is significant that in Ilocos Norte, only San Nicolas was named after a Saint. History. Like any other town in the ancient province of Ilocos Province, San Nicolas was established by Augustinian missionaries. Vigan , the first Spanish mission center in this region, was founded in 1572. In the year 1575, when the Spaniards first explored the Laoag (Padsan) River, they met hostile resistance from the natives of San Nicolas and Laoag. In another expedition dispatched from Vigan in 1584 San Nicolas was established and Laoag followed a year later. San Nicolas Catholic Church built in 1701 is one of the oldest buildings in this province. Its original structure is one of the must see places of the town. The Church and the attached Santa Rosa Academy Building, the well preserved Municipal Hall and the  old Town Plaza sprawled between them constitute the heart of the town center. These buildings and structures are originally built and continue to be festooned with earthen bricks, which is among the products of the surviving locals. Geography. San Nicolas is from Metro Manila and from Laoag City, the provincial capital. Barangays. The Municipality of San Nicolas is politically divided into 24 barangays. These barangays are headed by elected officials: Barangay Captain, Barangay Council, whose members are called Barangay Councilors. All are elected every three years. Climate. San Nicolas has a tropical savanna climate with warm to hot temperatures year  round. Temperatures dips sightly during the winter months between December to February. Demographics. In the , the population of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, was people, with a density of . Religion. Christianity is the predominant religion in the Philippines and is likewise the same in San Nicolas. Among the Christian denominations, the Catholic and Philippine Independent Churches make up the majority. Other Christian denominations represented in the town include Baptists, Pentecostals, Mormons, Charismatics and Jehovah's Witnesses, Church of God World Missions Phil. Inc. Below are the religious buildings situated in San Nicolas: Economy. Pottery-making is the main trademark of San  Nicolas. It was introduced by the Spaniards mainly in Barangay 8, and they called it "Alfareria", meaning "Art of Pottery". Other traditional crafts include the making of "Tagapulot, Lapida, Chicharon" and "Longganisa". The town also has large ricefields. San Nicolas also has a number of car stores and shops. Robinsons Place Ilocos, the biggest mall in the province is located in the town center. Government. San Nicolas, belonging to the second congressional district of the province of Ilocos Norte, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in  accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years. Tourism. San Nicolas is a place of historic buildings. Examples are San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church and San Nicolas Municipal Hall. Sports. Basketball is widely played in the town. Every year, there is a competition in basketball sponsored by the local government. As the countries' National Game, Sepak Takraw is also played. Volleyball, baseball, softball and badminton are also played mainly in schools. Education. High Schools Elementary Schools San Nicolas