History of Kidapawan City

Kidapawan City is a 2nd class city in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. It is the capital city of Cotabato. It is a favorite tourist destination in the late October to December and in the summer, where thousands of tourist climb the majestic Mt. Apo, the country's highest peak. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 101,205 people in 20,393 households.
Kidapawan, the city hailed as “A Spring in the Highland”, comes from the words “tida” which means spring and “pawan” meaning highland. The city is found at the bottom of the majestic Mt. Apo, the country’s tallest mountain making it a great spot and first-rate tourist attraction. Kidapawan is situated at the southeastern section of Cotabato province, placed in the middle of the big cities of Davao and Cotabato.
Its first settlers were predominantly Manobos. The influx of Christian settlers from Luzon and the Visayas has resulted in the evolution of the word Tidapawan to Kidapawan.
Strategically located at the foot of Mount Apo, the Philippines' tallest peak at 10,311 feet above sea level, Kidapawan City bustles with renewed energy as it opens its doors to the world. Mount Apo and its other scenic attractions make the province of Cotabato a potential world-class tourist destination.
History A few years after the coming of the American Christian Missionary Alliance, the Rural High School of Semanongol (now Manongol) and Form School in Bulatukan were established in the Kidapawan area. Datu Siawan Ingkal, the leader of the place, was appointed First Municipal District Mayor and headed the civilian emergency administration.
Kidapawan was originally a district of Pikit. Shortly after the Liberation period, on August 18, 1947, it was declared a separate municipality, becoming the fourth town of the empire province of Cotabato by virtue of Executive Order No. 82 dated August 18, 1948 and signed by then President Manuel Acuña Roxas. It covered a total land area of 273,262 hectares. Later, four other municipalities were created out of Kidapawan thus diminishing its area to 33,926.4 hectares.

On February 12, 1998, then President Fidel Valdez Ramos signed Republic Act No. 8500 declaring Kidapawan a component city of the province of Cotabato. Despite strong opposition from certain sectors, RA 8500 was finally ratified on March 21, 1998.
Geography Kidapawan City is located at the southeastern portion of Cotabato province, located almost midway between the cities of Davao and Cotabato at a distance of 110 and 120 km., respectively.
Political Subdivision The city belongs to the second district of Cotabato province, with 40 barangays. It is the capital town of Cotabato.
Population The population as of 2000 is 101,205, excluding the Cotabato province.
Language/Dialect Hiligaynon/Ilonggo, Cebuano, Tagalog, Ilocano, Boholano, and Manobo are spoken.Cebuano and tagalog is widely spoken especially in the city proper. English is taught in schools where it has been a medium of instruction
Housing http://www.ahyer.com/kidapawan-city-housing-units-pre-sale-14808-1
Climate Located outside the typhoon belt, the city is blessed with a favorable climate characterized by wet and dry seasons. The coldest time of the year is between December and January, and the hottest months are during the months of April and May.
Industries Cutflower has become a good source of livelihood among Cotabateños, especially those residing in Kidapawan City, who have organized a cooperative on cutflower marketing and production. Roses, anthuriums, and orchids which are conveniently grown locally are highly promising and profitable businesses and sources of livelihood. Even at large scale production, ornamentals and forest tree seedlings have become a high-selling business.
Ramie plantation in Kidapawan can be a future boom to the local textile industry.
Cotabato is primarily an agricultural area (50% of total land area devoted to agri-production) with major crops that include rubber, grains, sugarcane, and exotic fruits like durian, rambutan, mango, banana, lanzones and mangosteen.
The tourism industry has also been improving. Thousands of people come to Kidapawan to climb the philippines' tallest peak, the Mt. Apo at 10,000 feet above sea level.


Source: http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Kidapawan_City