The Municipality of Currimao was formerly a barrio of the Municipality of Paoay. It was created as a municipality by Executive Order No. 59 by the then Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison on December 28, 1920. It was inaugurated as a municipality on January 21, 1921 with the late Julian Aglipay as the first Municipal President.

The municipality came into existence Petition of the then Union Obrera - a labor and stevedoring group, and the people of the other barrios of Pias, Gaang, Maglaoi, and Pangil which now from the integral part of the town.

Nestled in a nook at the southwest corner of Ilocos Norte, Currimao laps an area of about 33,884 hectares. The terrain of the town is rugged and hilly. A limited area is suited for farming and on it are grown rice, corn, tobacco and garlic - not even enough to meet the needs of the populace. The major economic activity there is focused not on the farms but on the rich fishing grounds making the main industry. This municipality is 24 kilometers from Laoag. The municipality of subdivided into 23 barangays, all of which are already energized.

The version on how it got its name deals with the plundering Moros during the Spanish era, In the middle of the 18th century, Bantilan occupied the throne of his brother Ali Muom. As a result, Ali Muom and several loyal retainees turned to the sea and resorted to plunderings. The Spanish governor sent expeditions one after the other to capture him. Ali Muom and his followers were dubbed terrories or "cumao" because they carry away captives. In their wanderings and plunderings, the tirones reached as far as Northern Luzon.

To shield the people from this Moro, watchtowers were put up in strategic places. One was constructed in Currimao, When watchtower guards who were on look-out caught a glimpse of these tirones in the horizons, they would tip off the people to evacuate shouting: Corre! Corre! Which means Run! Run! Cumao, Corre! (Terrorists! Run!). From these words, Corre and Cumao, Currecumao was derived. Days passed by, the word was shortened to Currimao.

Currimao is blessed with several tourist attractions. These include the Gaang Beach Cove with its wide expanse of unpolluted beaches and tranquil waters which offers unlimited and enjoyment for picnickers and beach lovers. It also boasts of beach resorts such as D'Coral Beach Resort and La Playa Blanca Resort Hotel which caters to foreign as well as local tourists. It also includes D&D Girl Scouts Beach Camp, the center of provincial and regional Girls Scouts camping and other activities, Currimao Christian Conference Grounds where religious conferences and seminars are often held and also Pangil Beach Resort where government agency outings and meetings are frequently held.