The capital of Palawan, lies in the middle of the long island province. It is called. Puerto Princesa and considered as the largest city in the country in terms of political territory. The city boundary stretches through one hundred six kilometers of land and at its narrowest breadth is eight and a half kilometers wide somewhere in Baranggay Bahile. It is approximately three hundred six nautical miles from Manila, two hundred six miles to Panay islands and about two hundred fifty miles to Zamboanga. The western side is a coastline of South China Sea while on the east lies the Sulu Sea. North of the city is the neighboring municipality of Roxas and San Vicente while down south is the adjacent municipality of Aborlan.

Folklore claims that the name Puerto Princesa pertained to a Princess–like maiden who is said to roam around the place at certain nights of the year. On the other hand, practical people attribute the name to the strategic location of the city as a seaport that is naturally protected for the entire year and which can accommodate all kinds of sea vessels, "a royal haven for ships and a virtual princess of ports as the Spanish colonizers saw it."

History, however, reveals that the folklore may not be far from the truth. According to the publications of the city government the name of the city apparently was given in honor of Princess Eulalia of Spain who was born to Queen Isabela II and her consort, Dr. Francisco de Asis in 1864. When the princess died the name was changed to Puerto dela Princesa which eventually was shortened by deleting "dela" in the oficial name. As of today, Princess Eulalia park still exists across the residencia del governador near the cathedral.

The official website of the city government tells of the arrival of the catholic missionaries from Cebu and upon arrival in the place of what is to become the present city, "Fr. Antonio Muro levelled a portion of the hill to make way for a chapel. (That section is now occupied by the Catholic Cathedral, the P.C. Barracks and the Rizal Park. The Old Municipal Building used to be there, as well as an Elementary School). "The first mass celebrated in Puerto Princesa took place at a site where a marker now stands."

The website provides as well a glimpse of the American Period as it narrates that "in 1911, the new American administration made Puerto Princesa the seat of the Palawan provincial government with Major John Brown as Lieutenant Governor."

In December 1941 Japanese planes flew over Puerto Princesa. It was a start of days of uncertainty as people learned of the start of war between the United States and Japan. It was a matter of time before Japanese forces occupied Puerto Princesa. In February 1945 General H. Haney of the US 41st Division landed in Canigaran beach as Japanese forces retreated to the hills of Irawan. For detailed accounts on Puerto Princesa during the war, a good book maybe read at the Palawan Museum and entitled PUERTO PRINCESA During the Second World War published by the Natural and Historical Foundation Inc.

The most prominent Palaweno, Senator Ramon V. Mitra, when he was still the lone congressman from the province sponsored Republic Act no. 5906 which converted Puerto Princesa to the status of a City effective January 1, 1970. This law was later amended by Presidential Decree no. 437. Since then only four mayors had steered its helm. The first and its longest serving so far was Feliberto R. Oliveros, Jr. who had several terms with a total tenure of twenty years for the period 1970 to 1992. Con-Con delegate and Constitutional Commissioner Alfredo Abueg, Jr. was appointed mayor after the EDSA revolution. After a comeback by Oliveros in 1988 to 1992, the present legendary and multi-awarded mayor Edward S. Hagedorn started his first term. After three terms as mayor Hagedorn was succeeded by daily mass-attendee lawyer Victorino Dennis M. Socrates. In September 2002, Hagedorn made a comeback and is now on the succeeding term of what could be another set of three consecutive terms of public service. No less than President Arroyo had openly and repeatedly recognized the achievements of the indefatigable Hagedorn by publicly declaring Hagedorn as not just the mayor of Puerto Princesa but the mayor as well of the entire Philippines.