The existence of Catanauan as a pueblo (town) was first recorded in the map of father Pedro Murillo dated 1734. The Petition dated 1685 of Bishop Andres Gonzales of Nueva Caceres, Naga City requesting the King of Spain to have Masbate and the Pueblo of Catanauan assigned to Recollect Order was reflective of the early creation of Catanauan. The recognized foundation year of the Municipality was 1713 called as Nabatasan.
During the early part of the 17th century, there were frequent Moro (now Muslim) raids so Catanauan folks erected two small stone forts or watchtowers mounted with heavy and small artillery, both properly manned where they can easily see each other or called in local dialect “Magkatanawan”. There is where the name “Catanauan” was derived. The first watchtower called “Sta Maria’ was constructed near the place where the present municipal wharf is located. The second one, which stood in the intersection of what are now Rizal and Boncan streets, was called the “Castillo”.
During the latter part of the eighteenth century, Spanish galleon frequented this place. One of the commanders of the ship was Spanish navigator, named Manuel del Gallego. During his voyage, he caught sight of an island a very white beach reflecting along the horizon. Anxious to discover a land, the captain of the ship landed on it. Gallego then hastily reported to his companion that this would be a nice place to settle upon. So he traced it on the map. It is in the Central part of Banton Island, Marinduque and Romblon. Due to its favorable location he named it ‘MAGTANAUAN’ later on with the coming of the American in the early part of the nineteenth century ‘KA’ was affixed to Tanuan naming it ‘CATANAUAN’ this is the legend of this town.
On March 7, 1780, a fire razed the town destroying the Church and the Town Hall (Casa real).
In 1850, there was a population of 1,761 and 295 houses of simple materials. There was primary school and a cemetery owned and managed by the local parish.
In 1876, the town of Catanauan had a population of 2,647.
In 1887, the town of Catanauan had a population of 3,174 out of which 1,462 were taxpayers. There were 68 deaths, 129 baptism and 49 weddings.
In 1888, another destructive fire occurred which old folks called “tatlong ocho(three eights)” named from the year it happened 1888 (8 is ocho is Spanish)
Gil Abella was the first president of local government of Catanauan, later replaced by Anecito de Leon when the first Philippine Republic was proclaimed and a local government was organized.
In 1901, an American patrol arrived and organized the local Government, appointing Cirilo de Imus as president. In the intervening year some more American army unit came over together with an American school teacher who organized the Catanauan Elementary School.
Pedro Abadilla was the first president of the Municipal Council when the Jones Law went into effect. He was also first mayor under the Republic.
Leon Batario was the first mayor under the Commonwealth, the period when the title of the local executive became mayor instead of President. He was again appointed as the second mayor after the liberation replacing Leopoldo Cordero.
Peregrino Natividad who has been a municipal president in 1925-1930 was the last president under Jones Law.
On December 8, 1941, the town was celebrating fiesta when the war between the United States and Japan had been declared.
Epifanio Vera headed a Guerilla unit and entered the poblacion and held a public meeting in the Municipal Hall during the Japanese occupation
In April 19, 1943, first battle which occured some blocks along the Nabatasan Street were burned by the guerillas and during the night fight five-non-combatants were killed, four by stray bullets and one by the guerillas.
In March 12, 1944, the second battle where more than half of the town was put to the torch, which accordingly was intentionally done by the guerillas. As an offshoot, 19 of their sons were massacred as retaliation by the Japanese.
During the Japanese occupation, 42 men in barrio Tuhian were massacred. In other barrios, there were similar incidents.
Leopoldo Cordero as the town’s first mayor after the liberation, he was appointed by a contingent of the Philippines Civil Affairs Unit (PCAU).
Gregorio Orfanel who was subsequently elected in 1947, replaced Pedro Abadilla becoming the second mayor after the inauguration of the Philippine Republic.
In 1958, during the incumbency of the late Mayor Leon Reforma, a hospital was opened temporarily in a private house at Lot No. 74, psc-2. Barangay No. 1 (Tampos District) Catanauan, Quezon.
In 1963, a permanent hospital building was constructed in a one-hectare lot donated by the Abella and Abadilla families.
In 1960, the Philippine Army opened its so called Socio-Economic Military Project (SEMP) in Barrio San Roque (Agro) thus opening the vast hinterlands of the area to agriculture. Many army retirees given the privilege took opportunity to permanently settle there. The army also constructed road.
On November 23-27, 1987, Super Typhoon “SISANG” hit Catanauan destroying homes and buildings, including Luzonian Standard High School (now Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Catanauan Branch). It did not stop the town from celebrating its annual town Fiesta.
On November 2-3, 1995, Catanauan was hit by the “SUPER TYPHOON ROSING” damaging the crops, etc. Prior to the typoon, it is on the threshold of development, as still aiming for greater heights towards a model human settlements development.
On 2000 census, it has a population of 57,736 people in 11,283 households.
On October 17, 2005, the SB Members of Catanauan officially adopted the Official Catanauan March, “Catanauan” composed by Jose Gonzales Paz, and the Catanauan hymn,“Mabuhay Catanauan” composed by the Kalilayan Folkloric Group which were adjudged winners during the September 20, 2005 contest