Tarangnan is politically subdivided into 41 barangays. On the
earlier part of the 18th century, Tarangnan was the first
settlement of the Jesuits missionaries in the island of Samar.
Even before the explusion of the Jesuits, Moro raids have
already begun as early as 1750. Samar though was not their major
target because of its poverty. Most of its coastal settlements
were often attack by Moros as they return to their bases in
Mindanao and Sulu after raiding affluent places in Luzon, Bicol
and West Visayas. Hence, for greater safety, the people settling
in Tinago, now Tarangnan, moved to an interior site called
Dapdap. In the second half of the nineteenth century, the island
of Samar experienced a commercial boom especially in abaca with
imports and exports of said products. Moro raids in the island
have declined due to the presence of Spaniards. As the Spaniards
settled in Samar, They saw the need of all w eather seaports and
easy communications for their commercial activities and
political administration. Thi