the area of surigao del norte was once part of an ancient district referred to as "caraga" during the spanish colonial period named after its chief inhabitants, the caraga tribe or caragans who were largely concentrated in a settlement called caraga. the ancient district of caraga, which was established in 1609 comprised all of the present day provinces of surigao del norte, dinagat islands, surigao del sur, the northern part of davao oriental and eastern misamis oriental. the seat of government was at tandag until it was transferred to the town of surigao in 1848. six spanish military districts were established in mindanao in 1860 and the areas of present-day surigao del norte, surigao del sur, dinagat islands, agusan del norte and agusan del sur (collectively called agusan back then), including the territory lying between present day butuan and caraga bays, formed the third district called the "east district" which was changed in 1870 to "distrito de surigao". by the end of the spanish rule in 1897, agusan had been organized as a single politico-military comandancia named "butuan", within the administrative jurisdiction of distrito de surigao.