The Subanuns had lived in the interior highlands while the Muslims (Tausugs, Samals and Kalibugans) occupied the coast and river mouths when the Spaniards arrived in the area. Zamboanga was part of the territory that shifted between the control of the Sultans of Sulu and Maguindanao. For much of the 17th century, the Spaniards and the Muslim principalities of Maguindanao fought a protracted war in and around Zamboanga del Sur. In 1636, the Spaniards defeated a Muslim fleet at Punta de Flecha and established Fort Pilar at Zamboanga. This fort was to have checked the continued depredations of Moro raiders on Visayas and Luzon settlements but in 1662, the fort at Zamboanga was abandoned. It was reoccupied by the Spaniards in 1719. Outside Zamboanga, the Spaniards had little, if any real power.

Zamboanga was organized as a corregimiento until 1837 when it became a gobierno militar, or military government. In 1860, following the reorganization of Mindanao, Zamboanga became one of the districts and what is now Zamboanga City became the capital of the whole of Mindanao. Spanish forces eventually extended control over the region of Zamboanga del Sur as far as Sibuguey.

Zamboanga became home to hundreds of Filipino Christians who either settled with the Spaniards, or had escaped from their Muslim captors, establishing a polyglot settlement, which used pidgin Spanish or chabacano as lingua franca. Towards the end of the Spanish regime, hundreds of Filipinos accused of petty crimes and political activities were sent into exile in the Penal Colony of San Ramon. Beginning in the early 20th century, Visayan migrants settled in Zamboanga, clearing forests and opening new land to agriculture.

Zamboanga became a district of the Moro Province in 1903. In 1914, it became a regular province of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu. In 1952, the province was divided into two. Pagadian became the capital of Zamboanga del Sur.

In the 1970s, Zamboanga del Sur and other provinces in Western Mindanao became the seen of an active secessionist war waged primarily by the Moro National Liberation Front. Following the 1976 Tripoli Agreement, Zamboanga del Sur and other provinces of Region 9 were constituted into an Autonomous Region with Zamboanga City as administrative center. In 1989, following a plebiscite to determine the extent of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Zamboanga del Sur voted against inclusion.

The Zamboangueños have a common unique dialect called "Chabacano" – a mixture of Spanish nouns and unconjugated verbs mixed with Filipino languages. The development of the language is rooted in the fact that Zamboanga was once an outpost of Spain and thousands of Filipinos who took residence in Zamboanga were from different parts of the archipelago. Having no predominant tongue, the people deviced pidgin Spanish to communicate among themselves and with the Spanish soldiers. Outside Zamboanga City, Cebuano is the predominant means of communication among the mixed population of migrants from Visayas and Luzon as well as indigenous peoples such as the Kalibugans and Subanuns.

The migrant Christian population predominates in the coastal plains. Along parts of the coast and some rivers live several Muslim groups such as the Samal and the Tausug, as well as the Kalibugans who are Subanun speakers. In the interior live the Subanuns, most of whom are traditional slash and burn farmers.

The intermingling of the different cultures of Zamboanga del Sur. Pagadian City, which is a melting pot where Subanun, Tiruray, Manobo, Cebuano, Maranao and Maguindanao mix freely, is a brassware center. Zamboanga City draws tourists who are eager to observe the Muslim culture of the resident Tausugs, Yakans and Samals and visit the sites of historical significance such as Fort Pilar, the old Spanish front line fortification.

Zamboanga del Sur holds the bountiful southern half of the peninsula and is blessed with fertile soil, rich fishing grounds and minerals. The province has 42 municipalities spread over 7,358 square kilometers of land. The local population of 1.2 million people has an educated and skilled labor pool of 760,000 with a participation rate of 69.1%. Zamboanga del Sur has a cultivated agricultural land area of 314,957 hectares and a coastline 766 kilometers long teeming with marine life. Non-metallic and metallic mineral deposits can also be found in the province.

The province can be reached by land, sea or air travel. There are four airports in the province and the airport in Pagadian City has daily flights from Manila via Cebu or Zamboanga. Cebu is only 55 minutes away while Zamboanga City is only 35 minutes away. Zamboanga del Sur has six national ports 14 municipal seaports that can efficiently service the transport needs of commerce and passengers alike. The local road network connects Zamboanga del Sur to its neighboring provinces. Electric power and water supply is stable in all the municipalities and in the City of Pagadian. The province is equipped with direct dialing facilities for domestic and international long distance calls and cell sites for cellular phone services. Nine commercial banks, three government banks and two rural banks anchor the banking and financial needs of Zamboanga del Sur.

Current commercial ventures in the province are agribusiness, mineral extraction and production of high-demand export goods such as rattan furniture, garments and crafts. While these industries are still open for new investors, the priority investment thrust of the local government unit is the development of small, medium and large-scale industries. Current investment priorities include the manufacture of rubber-based products, gifts and houseware items, wood based products and construction materials. Processing agricultural commodities like coconut, and marine products are also promising ventures. Establishing support facilities for aquaculture products like ice plants and cold storage and the manufacturing or delivery of consumer products and services are also potentially profitable endeavors.

The province of Zamboanga del Sur has been working in cooperation with its neighboring provinces on projects geared towards realizing increased socio-economic benefits for its people. After obtaining support from donor agencies, mobilizing local structures, and tapping community support, Zamboanga del Sur started to address environmental problems and community marketing concerns by exploring areas for partnerships with its neighbors.

Development Plan Highlights:

• To emerge as an environment-friendly, agri-industrial province with self-reliant and productive people enjoying equal opportunities in social, economic, and political spheres in an atmosphere of peace, justice and harmony.