Cadiz traces it beginning to the establishment of a trading colony near the seacoast now known as Cadiz Viejo. The colony began to expand so that the new settlement was built near the bank of the Hitalon River. According to historical records, in 1861 the Spaniards came and named the settlement Cadiz. This was so, because it reminded them of a seaport named Cadiz in Spain.
It was in the year 1878 when Cadiz became a municipality independent from Saravia (now E.B. Magalona). Its first appointed gobernadorcillo was Antonio Cabahug, who was married to Capitana Francisca Vito. The Gobernadorcillo, together with the tribunal, was the governing power of the municipality during that time. This was dominated only by the Spanish parish priest (Cura Fraile). The tribunal was composed of the teniente mayor, teniente de cementar, teneinte de granados, alquaciles,cuadrillos, comisarios, cabezas de barangay, directorcillo and juez de paz.
During all these years, improvements made in the different streets and public places were done thru the "dagyao system". The construction of the road leading to Daga including the bridge that spanned the Talaba-an Diotay River was realized thru this system.
The first Cadiz Municipal Tribunal was established in 1894. Elected to this governing body where Gil Lopez Villanueva as Capitan Municipal, Mateo Lazaro as teniente municipal, with Jose Lopez Vito, Fermin Belmonte and eight others as delgados municipales.
The break-out of the Spanish-American War in 1878 saw Cadiz taking part in the insurection. Her sons and daughters headed by Francisco Abelarde took up arms against their Spanish masters. During the short lived government of the Cantonal State of Federal Republica de Negros, Jose Lopez Vito was elected president. Fermin Belmonte was elected vice-president at the same time holding the office of Juez de Paz. These two, together with the delgado de policia and delgado local de hacienda, comprise the municipal council.
At the onset of the American Rule, Cadiz was on its way to prosperity with the coming of two American lumber companies to the area. Unluckily, one burned down in 1921, while the jurisdiction of the other lumber company was transferred to Sagay.
During the Japanese Occupation from 1941-1945, Cadiz had been placed lamentably under the heel of the Japanese Imperial forces which brought much suffering to the people of Cadiz.
The resistance movement put up a civil government in the mountains to deal with civilian affairs. In the first post-war election in 1952, Joaquin Ledesma was elected Mayor, he held the reigns of the local government until Heracleo Villacin took over, when he won in the 1955 local election.
On May 5, 1967 an event took place in the shores of Cadiz. Three Sperm Whales landed in the shores of Barangay Banquerohan. Each measuring 40 feet long and 8 feet in height. These mamals were said to have lost its course and found themselves in Cadiz shores.
Five Days after, another group of nine of these creatures were seen at the bay, due to this incident Cadiz is identified today as the "City of Whales".
On July 4,1967, Cadiz was inaugurated as a City with the approval of Republic Act 4894, in June 17,1967 in Congress. The said act was authored by then congressman Armando C. Gustilo. Heracleo Villacin continued to serve as City Mayor of Cadiz until his death on May 27,1975. He was the last municipal mayor and the first City Mayor of Cadiz.
On the death of Villacin, Vice Mayor Pedro E. Ramos,Sr. took over the helm of the City Government until his retirement on September 30,1984, after which Vice Mayor Prudencio D. Olvido becme the new Mayor. The poeple power revolution on February 26,1986 toppled the Government of Ferdinand E. Marcos and installed Corazon C. Aquino as president. With the revolution came the first local election on January 18,1988. Rowena V. Guanzon, was elected Mayor of Cadiz, she resigned in March 1992. In the joint national/local election on May 11,1992, Vicente C. Tabanao, the no.1 City Councilor was elected Mayor of Cadiz, a development oriented official, Tabanao continued to lead this bustling City towards progress and development. After the death of Vicente Tabanao, the helm of the city government was transferred to Vice Mayor Eduardo G. Varela as City Mayor.
Varela continued the visions and goal of the late mayor. The local elections on May 1995, confirmed the peoples wish for Varela to remain as mayor when he was elected to this position. His incumbency paves the way for the implementation of more development programs and establishment of more development projects. One of these is the negotiations with the local government infrastructure fund agency and the United States Agency on International Development (USAID) which made posssible of a modern public market replacing the old market which was built in 1981. Another project is the construction of the Banquerohan Bridge, which link Barangay Banquerohan to the poblacion.
The poeple manifested their approval of Varela's performance, by electing him for 2nd term during the 1998 synchronized elections.
With the helm of the city government under Salvador Escalante, Jr., Cadiz continues quest for its rightful position in the array of first class cities of the country.
