Previously, Rosario was a part of San Francisco until it became a separate municipality on June 21, 1969, through the enactment of Republic Act No. 5760. The town was named after its patron saint, Nuestra Senora del Rosario.
With a land area of 385.05 square kilometers or 148.67 square miles, the municipality makes up 3.85% of the total area of Agusan del Sur. According to the 2020 Census, its population was 49,610, accounting for 6.71% of Agusan del Sur’s total population and 1.77% of the Caraga region’s overall population. Based on these statistics, the population density can be calculated as 129 inhabitants per square kilometer or 334 inhabitants per square mile.
Esperanza has 15 barangays. The graph and table below show the population per barangay for the years 2015 and 2020.
Barangay
Population (2020)
Population (2015)
Bayugan 3
14,848
13,922
Cabantao
1,892
1,723
Cabawan
1,570
1,357
Libuac
3,208
3,085
Maligaya
1,517
1,706
Marfil
1,914
1,914
Novele
2,653
2,695
Poblacion
5,431
5,131
Santa Cruz
9,479
8,659
Tagbayagan
2,447
2,100
Wasi-an
4,651
4,391
Economy
Fiscal Year
Annual Regular Income
2009
80,172,081
2010
85,681,406
2011
99,964,105
2012
106,253,683
2013
117,358,056
2014
120,621,225
2015
140,830,457
2016
162,118,566
End notes:
Annual Regular Income = Locally Sourced Revenue + Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) Current Year + Other Shares from National Tax Collection
Locally Sourced Revenue = Real Property Tax (General Fund) + Tax on Business + Other Taxes + Regulatory Fees + Service/User Charges + Receipts from Economic Enterprises
Population
Census date
Population
1903
–
1918
291
1939
0
1948
–
1960
–
1970
7,885
1975
9,774
1980
12,443
1990
25,436
1995
26,836
2000
28,675
2007
31,293
2010
38,280
2015
46,683
2020
49,610
Rosario’s population has experienced significant growth over the last century, increasing from 291 individuals in 1918 to 49,610 people in 2020. This represents a total population growth of 49,319 people over a period of 102 years. According to the latest census figures in 2020, Rosario’s population continues to grow at a positive rate of 1.29%, with an increase of 2,927 people from the previous population of 46,683 in 2015.
Location
Distances
Based on the great-circle distance (the shortest distance between two points over the surface of the Earth), the cities closest to Rosario are Bislig, Surigao del Sur, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur, Tandag, Surigao del Sur, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte, and Malaybalay, Bukidnon. The nearest municipalities are San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur, Barobo, Surigao del Sur, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, La Paz, Agusan del Sur, and Talacogon, Agusan del Sur. Its distance from the national capital is 878.41 kilometers (545.82 miles). The following list delineates such distance measurements.