Cotabato (historical province)

Cotabato, also known as the Province of Cotabato (Maguindanaon: Kutawatu, كوتوات), was a historical province of the Philippines established in 1914 that existed until its dissolution in 1973. The province's capital from 1920 to 1967 was Cotabato City (of the same name) while Pagalungan became its capital from 1967 to 1973.

Cotabato
Province of the Philippines
1914–1973
Seal
Location of the historical province of Cotabato.
Capital	Cotabato City (1920-1966) Pagalungan (1966-1973)
Area
•	24,916 km2 (9,620 sq mi)
History
• Established	July 23 1914
• Disestablished	November 22 1973
Political subdivisions	38[1] (July 18, 1966 to November 22, 1973) Alamada Ampatuan Bagumbayan Buldon Buluan Carmen Columbio Datu Paglas Datu Piang Dinaig Esperanza Isulan Kabacan Kalamansing Kidapawan Lebak Libungan Lutayan Maganoy Magpet Makilala Mariano Marcos Matalam Midsayap M'lang Pagalungan Palimbang Parang Pigcawayan Pikit President Quirino President Roxas Sultan Kudarat Sultan sa Barongis Tacurong Tulunan Tumbao Upi + 14[2] Banga City of Cotabato City of Rajah Buayan Glan Kiamba Koronadal Maasim Maitum Norala Polomolok Surala Tampacan Tantangan Tupi 52 (before July 18, 1966)
Preceded by Succeeded by Moro Province North Cotabato South Cotabato Maguindanao Sultan Kudarat
Today part of	· Cotabato  · Maguindanao del Norte  · Maguindanao del Sur  · Sarangani  · South Cotabato  · Sultan Kudarat

Originally a district of the former Moro Province, on September 1, 1914, the defunct Department of Mindanao and Sulu provided with autonomous government through Act No. 2408 enacted on July 23, 1914, converted the district into a province along with other former Moro Province districts:^[3] Davao, Lanao, Sulu, Zamboanga, and its former sub-province Bukidnon. Davao, Lanao and Zamboanga were then later split and partitioned into different current provinces while Sulu and Bukidnon remain what it is today.

The province was one of the largest provinces of the Philippines, with an area of 2,296,791 hectares (22,967.91 km²).^[3] It was dissolved on 1973, comprising what are now the provinces of Cotabato (North), South Cotabato, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani.