According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 74,997 people in 14,342 households. The early inhabitants of this town were the semi-primitive people called "Mundos" and "Ambaks". When traders and settlers from Panay started moving in, the natives were driven to the mountains. The new settlers were called "Tagahigad" and when the Spaniards came the place was called "Ginigaran" from the word "
higad" but it was later spelled and pronounced as Hinigaran. The town was founded in 1765 and Capitan Basilio Mongcal was appointed as the first president in 1806. Among its first settlers were the families of Mongcal, Lagtapon, Cosio, Sario, David, Orin, Pido, Pabalinas, Lontayao, Javier, Vargas, Lucasan, Grijaldo, and Dano-og --some of whom were fugitives from Panay. The Spaniards established the seat of the "pueblo" in Jacinto and Zamora Streets, and the town was governed by "Capitanes Municipales", Tenientes Absolato" and Cabeza de Barangays". When revolt against the Spanish Government broke out, Capitan Bibiano Galvosa and his followers fought bravely against the Spaniards. Hinigaran is politically subdivided into 24 barangays.
* Anahaw
* Aranda
* Barangay I (Pob.)
* Barangay II (Pob.)
* Barangay III (Pob.)
* Barangay IV (Pob.)
* Bato
* Calapi
* Camalobalo
* Camba-og
* Cambugsa
* Candumarao
* Gargato
* Himaya
* Miranda
* Nanunga
* Narauis
* Palayog
* Paticui
* Pilar
* Quiwi
* Tagda
* Tuguis
