Norzagaray, officially the Municipality of Norzagaray (), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 136,064 people.
It is the location of Angat Dam which sits on the lower realms of the Sierra Madre mountain range, the Dam is notable for being a major water and power supply for the National Capital Region.
History
The nucleus of what today is the town of Norzagaray traces from the old barrio Casay and barrio Matictic which was ecclesiastically and politically administered by the Augustinians from the town of Angat as its visitas as shown in the document "Mapa del Teritorio de Bulacan" by Fray Emmanuel Blanco, O.S.A. in 1832 which appeared in another document "Administracion Espiritual de los Padres Agustinos calzados de la Provincia del Dulce Nombre de Jesus de las Islas Filipinas" of Fray Francisco Villacorta in 1833.
The people of Barrio Casay worked for reforms politically, socially and economically, in order to be separated from Angat. They succeeded in their separation bid through Governor-General Fernándo Norzagaray y Escudero, who issued a Real Cedula declaring barrio Casay together with barrio Matictic to be constituted as a new independent town from Angat. Political boundaries of Angat and Pueblo de Casay y Matictic were demarcated and the newly created town was renamed as "Norzagaray" in honor of the Governor-General.
During the American occupation of the Philippines, Norzagaray was returned to Angat by virtue of Act No. 932 beginning in 1903.
Cityhood
As early as 2005, the town's Sangguniang Bayan approved Resolution No. 60, Series of 2005 requesting the Senate of the Philippines through its president, Franklin Drilon and the House of Representatives thru its speaker, Jose de Venecia Jr. to co-sponsor a bill for Norzagaray's conversion into a city and creation of a lone legislative district.
Geography
The town of Norzagaray is bordered by San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and Rodriguez, Rizal to the south; by General Nakar, Quezon to the east; Santa Maria to the west; Angat, Bulacan to the north-west; and Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan to the north. Norzagaray is from Malolos and from Manila.
Norzagaray was previously part of the 3rd district of Bulacan from 1987 to 2022, when it was moved to the newly created 6th district along with Angat and Santa Maria.
Barangays
Norzagaray is politically subdivided into 13 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Friendship Village Resources (FVR) was created as a barangay out of barangay Tigbe under Sangguniang Panlalawigan Kapasiyahan Bilang 179-T 2002 and Sangguniang Panlalawigan Kautusan Bilang 003 on April 18, 2002; it was ratified on October 12, 2002.
Climate
Demographics
In the 2020 census, the population of Norzagaray was 136,064 people, with a density of .
Economy
In 2017, Norzagaray generated a total revenue of , or 19% higher than its previous income in 2016, making it as the 4th richest municipality in Bulacan after Marilao, Santa Maria and Baliwag.
Major Industries
Cement, Marble/Marble Processing, Food/Food Processing, Pyrotechnics
Major Products
Bakeries, Processed meat and Agricultural products
Indigenous/Raw Materials Available
Cement and Marbles
Tourism
Today, the town of Norzagaray is quickly rising in terms of commercial and economic status with tourist potentials. "Bakas" which is on a portion of the Angat River is recognized as one of the busiest places in the locality, particularly during summertime. People from distant towns often visit the place for relaxation.
Another potential spot for tourism is the Angat Watershed Forest Reserve where the Angat River Hydroelectric Plant or Angat Dam is located. The dam is the biggest hydroelectric plant the National Power Corporation (NPC) has ever constructed in terms of power capacity within the entire Philippines. Because of Angat Dam's size, its reservoir sinks to critical levels during the dry season necessitating the need for cloud seeding in some years. The reservoir of this hydroelectric plant is covered with forests producing a cool climate.