Kidapawan, also known as the "City of Fruits and Highland Springs" is originated from the Manobo words "tida" meaning spring and "pawan" meaning highland. The city is located at the foot of the Mystical Mt. Apo, the highest peak in the country that towers 10, 311 feet above sea level, making it a great tourist destination for all to visit.

Its first settlers were dominantly the Manobo Tribe, then the Christian settlers coming from Luzon & Visayas have resulted to the evolution of Kidapawan's name: from "Tidapawan" to "Kidapawan."

Kidapawan was originally named a district in Pikit, but then became the first component city of the Cotabato Province. It was legally created by virtue of Republic Act No. 8500, signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos on February 12, 1998.

Aside from Mt. Apo, Kidapawan is also known for its other scenic attractions such as, Lake Agco and its newest eco-tourism site, Paniki Falls Eco-River Park, which makes this city a potential world-class tourist destination.

(source: Karlo Antonio Galay David)

There are different proposed origins to the name "Kidapawan"

Kidapawan, also known as the "City of Fruits and Highland Springs" is originated from the Manobo words "tida" meaning spring and "pawan" meaning highland, in short it means "spring in the highland." This has to be most common cited origin of the name.

Another origin of the city's name is from Bergonia, claiming the "kida" is Manobo for to live near, and "pawan" meaning spring in the highland, making Kidapawan mean "'to live near a spring in the highland."

Not all origins are known to be spring-related. According to Apo Meding Ligue Mampo of Mua-an, Kidapawan was once called "Linapawan" or marrying place by the Manobo Tribe,because the area that is now Kidapawan was where the Manobo would come to mingle and meet prospective spouses, and where they would subsequently get married. 

(source: Karlo Antonio Galay David)