The town used to be known as “Lapak”, and was then under the jurisdiction of Marayo, now Pontevedra. How Lapak was formed into a village was not definitely known, but the old belief was that early people of Marayo have cut their way inland through dense forests to search for their subsistence, realizing that life in their coastal settlement was hard.Formerly known as “Lapak” La Castellana is rural town situated at the feet of Mt. Kanlaon. The town was named after the famous “Paseo de La Castellana” in Madrid, Spain. The municipality of La Castellana dubbed as the Banana capital of Negros Occidental because of its huge product aside from the sugarcane plantation. La Castellana was also famous with its water falls, beautiful spots that really attracts local and foreign tourists.
In the latter part of the 18th century, “muscovado” sugar mills known as “De Agua” were constructed. The huge water wheel in Hda.Grande and the rusty iron ruler between the hill of Canticbel and the eastern bank of Camansi River were indications of the existence of these mills. Sugarcane planting was then encouraged during the period, and immigrants upon hearing of the rich potentials of the area came in and settled down. The place became progressive and on January 5, 1918, La Castellana was inaugurated as a town.