Bogo was named from a tree, Garuga Floribunda that flowers into full bloom in the short summer of October. Bogo trees abound in the locality and have been part of the trading culture of the population before the turn of the 19th century. The people were highly engaged in fishing, agriculture and commerce and trading is done at the shade of the Bogo trees. In the late 1500’s, Bogo is part of the Augustinian mission settlement of the parish of Bantayan Island and was established as visita or capilla in 1850. Bogo’s local administration was first recorded to have been set up in 1864 under the leadership of Capitan Pedro Aballe, the first gobernadorcillo of the pueblo or town.

The first mass was celebrated in the hastily built chapel of cogon roofing and mixed bamboo and lumber materials on April 5, 1850, to coincide with the death anniversary of the patron saint. Unfortunately, however, this chapel was gutted by fire of undetermined origin and a new stone church was constructed at the same place where the present Bogo Town Plaza is located. About this time, the Spanish authorities in Bogo introduced civil government. Pedro Aballe became the first Cabeza de Barangay or Capitan of the Town from 1864 to 1869. The late Ex-Senator Pedro L. Rodriguez, popularly known as the Grand Old Man of Bogo named one of the oldest streets of the town after him.

In those times, a Capitan or Cabeza de Barangay took charge of the recollection of tributes to support the encomienda system of Spain. Late the tribute was substituted with the “papelita” (cedula) which the individual paid in two installments annually. A taxpayer who could not afford to pay the cost of papelita in the amount of P1.50 was made to work on local projects at fifty centavos a week. Because of this, a good number of delinquent taxpayers escaped and hid in the mountain fastness of Bogo.

Early historian aver that the town of Bogo derived its name from a lone bogo tree (scientifically named “Garuga Floribunda” that flowers into full bloom in the short summer) which stood on the brink of the shore which is now a part of Bogo wharf. Under its spreading shade the natives of the place meet incoming traders who rode on frail sailboats loaded with goods to be sold or bartered with the natives of the town. Thus, this spot became a rendezvous for traders and merchants as well as for nature lovers and leisure-seeker who found refuge and comfort under the cool shade of the tree made more poignant by the balmy air wafted by the ocean breeze. Some of these traders, however remained and married with the natives of the place.

A few years before the turn of the 20th century, eventful episodes took place in the town marked by fire and blood. The nationalistic fervor of the Katipuneros in Luzon fanned the flames of the resistant movement in Cebu. In Bogo, the younger kins of the Katipuneros, the so-called “Pulahans” exacted heavy tolls on the forces of the Casadores (guadia civil) during fierce encounters near the out-skirts of the town. Although the Pulahans were ill-armed, untrained and outnumbered at times, they nevertheless continued to hit back at the enemy with unrelenting vigor and determination.

Success was almost within their grasps when in 1898, an American cavalry unit under Captain Rowan landed at Nailon point, a northeastern barrio, and proceeded to the Poblacion where he assembled his troops in front of the Catholic Church. On hand to meet him was Pedro L. Rodriguez then Presidente Municipal of the town. After brief amenities, Capt. Rowan and Presidente Rodriguez sealed an agreement for the protection of the civilian populace of the town.

With the defeat of the Spanish forces in the islands from the hands of the invading American armies-political, economic, social and educational reforms were instituted. Thus, was born the American system of government which the Filipinos enjoyed for almost half a century.

World War II

Again in 1941, the Philippines, being a territory of the United States, became a battleground in an undeclared war between the invading Japanese Imperial Forces and the combined Fil-American troops. After the surrender of the USAFFE from Bogo refused to swear allegiance to the Japanese. They went to the hills and organized guerilla warfare headed by disbanded officers of the constabulary and army units in the province.

Under the command of Capt. Garcia the guerilla forces encamped at Mt. Binabag. Foremost among the guerilla were Jose Carrasco, Jose Momongan, Leo Española and several civilian volunteers who joined the guerilla movement.

Cognizant of the anti-Japanese sentiment of this armed group who were determined to carry out harassment tactics against the occupation troops in northern Bogo, six Japanese seaplane bombed the town of Bogo on the early morning of December 12, 1942. Several civilians cost their lives and many injured. In order to quell the seething rebellion, the Japanese military authorities in Cebu established a garrison in the town in a building now owned by the Northern Cebu Colleges. Captured guerillas and sympathizers were subjected to untold brutalities at the Japanese garrison. As a means to win the loyalty and support of the people of the town, the local puppet administration was established in Bogo under Japanese supervision. Councilor Moises Lepatan was appointed town mayor during the occupation.

Liberation came in 1944, and no sooner civilian government was restored. Ex-Municipal Secretary Perfecto Andrino was appointed first Mayor of Bogo after liberation by the victorious Liberal Party of President Manuel Roxas in 1945. In the first local election held after the World War II, Severo Verallo, considerable majority elected the candidate of the Liberal Party in the town mayor. Hand in hand, the people and the local leaders worked feverishly to regain the town’s enviable prestige as the Queen Town of Northern Cebu out of the shambles and ruins of the last war.

Cityhood
The plebiscite for the cityhood of Bogo was held on 16 June 2007. After few hours of canvassing, 97.82% of voters of Bogo voted for “yes” for cityhood. Former representative Clavel Asas-Martinez announced that the cityhood of Bogo has been ratified. It became the sixth component city of Cebu province.

On 19 November 2008, the City of Bogo was demoted along with 2 other cities in Cebu and 13 other cities in the Philippines. The Supreme Court ruled out that the 16 cities did not pass the requirements for cityhood.

On December 10, 2008, Bogo and the other 15 cities affected filed a motion for reconsideration with the Supreme Court. More than a year later, on December 22, 2009, acting on said appeal, the Court reversed its earlier ruling as it ruled that “at the end of the day, the passage of the amendatory law (regarding the criteria for cityhood as set by Congress) is no different from the enactment of a law, i.e., the cityhood laws specifically exempting a particular political subdivision from the criteria earlier mentioned. Congress, in enacting the exempting law/s, effectively decreased the already codified indicators. SC reverses self, upholds creation of 16 cities. As such, the cityhood status of Bogo is effectively restored.

But on August 27, 2010, Bogo lost its city status again. It shared this fate with 15 other cities after the Supreme Court voted 7-6, with two justices not taking part, to reinstate a 2008 decision declaring as “unconstitutional” the Republic Acts (RAs) that converted 16 municipalities into cities. A previous law required towns aspiring to become cities to earn at least P100 million annually, which none of the 16 did.

On February 15, 2011, the Supreme Court upheld for the third time the cityhood of Bogo and 15 other towns in the Philippines.

On June 28, 2011, resolution, the Supreme Court has directed the Clerk of Court to forthwith issue the entry of judgement on the cityhood case of 16 municipalities. Sealing with “the finality of the resolution upholding the constitutionality of the 16 Cityhood Laws absolutetly warrants the respondents "Motion for Entry of Judgement”, the SC ruled.“ This entry of judgement ended the cityhood battle of Bogo City and 15 other cities in the Philippines.

The New Bogo City Hall was inaugurated on April 19, 2013 by President Benigno Aquino III, President of the Republic of the Philippines. On November 8, 2013, a monster powerful super typhoon Haiyan, also known as Yolanda, badly hit northern Cebu, where Bogo City is located and not spared with the tragic and widespread devastation. Typhoon Yolanda destroyed almost everything from infrastructure to agriculture, 90% left homeless and thirteen died in Bogo, among the over 6,000 fatalities in Central Philippines. The newly built Bogo City Hall was one of the structure damaged, its roof got ripped off, its glass windows broken and some parts of the building also suffered damage