Baculud was already a bustling settlement when the Spaniards first arrived in 1571.  It was reorganized as the Pueblo de Bacolor in 1576, by a certain Don Guillermo Manabat.  It became national capital of the Philippines from 6 October 1762 to 30 May 1764 during the British invasion of the Philippines.  It was bestowed the title of Villa de Bacolor by Royal decree on 9 November 1765.  It was provincial capital of Pampanga during the Spanish period.  However, there is no record as to when Bacolor began to function as such.

The first civil government in the Philippines was inaugurated in Bacolor on February 13, 1901, with Ceferino C. Joven as governor. It remained capital of Pampanga until August 14, 1902, when the provincial capital was moved from Bacolor to San Fernando.

As the center of arts, culture and politics in the province, Bacolor was considered the Athens of Pampanga.  It was totally destroyed in 1995 by lahar flows from Mt. Pinatubo.

A government building in Bacolor before the turn of the century.