Sual used to be a part of a town called San Isidro Labrador de Tobuang (now called
Labrador). However, Sual would separate from this town when an issue was decreed by the Spanish
Governor-General Rafael María de Aguilar y Ponce de León.
Naval Base Lingayen built a
PT boat base at Sual in 1945. On November 18, 1986, Vice Mayor Fernando R. de la Cruz was assassinated in Barangay Paitan West by unknown gunmen while on his way home with two companions. De la Cruz was then the vice chairman of the Pangasinan chapter of the
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) when the shooting took place.
Maritime issues In January 2008,
Bolinao Mayor Alfonso Celeste said the local government will file for damages against the Indonesian owners of the
barge APOL 3003. The
University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI) stated that the environmental damage was . The barge towed by a
tug boat from
Indonesia to the power plant in Sual on November 27 when
Typhoon Mina destroyed its anchor and rope, then hurled it to Ilog Malino
reef, spilling 95% of its
coal cargo. The hard coal spill spread to of
coral and
sea grass areas. ==Geography==