Northern Samar was created as a province on November 9, 1965 through the issuance of Republic Act 4221, “Providing for the Division of Samar Island into Three Provinces: Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar.”

The province is located on the eastern part of the Philippine Islands. It is bounded by San Bernardino Strait on the north, Samar Sea  on the west, Pacific Ocean on the east, and the provinces of  Samar and Eastern Samar on the south. 

Northern Samar is the gateway to Visayas and Mindanao from Luzon. It can be reached by 14 hours bus travel through the Maharlika Highway passing Bicol Region and traversing San Bernardino Strait via ferryboat in the primary ports of San Isidro and Allen.  Right now, it is already accessible to Manila via Asian Spirit Airlines servicing three flights a week.

The province has a total land area of 3,498 square kilometers.  It is composed of  24 municipalities and 569 barangays.  Catarman is the capital town.

Northern Samar registered a total population of  500,639 in 2000 (2000 Census of Population and Housing), posting an annual growth rate of  2.11 percent.  Its population density is recorded at 143 persons per square kilometer.  Majority speak Waray-waray dialect.

In 2000, the province's simple literacy rate was placed at 88.3 percent with women (89.5%)  having higher literacy rate than men (87.2%).

In terms of income, the province is classified as second class.  Among the municipalities, majority or 62.5% are fifth class municipalities. Only two are considered second and third class municipalities (Catarman and Laoang).

Coconut, abaca, palay and rootcrops are the major agricultural crops of the province while bangus, crabs and prawn are among its major fish products.

The major tourist destinations in the province include the rock formations in the island of Biri, the century old churches in Capul, Palapag, and Laoang, and white sand beaches in San Jose and Lavezares.