San Nicolas, the emerging metropolis-satellite of Laoag City, lies on the south bank of Laoag River, at the western central part of Ilocos Norte. The municipality is bounded on the south by  Paoay and Batac; on the north and west by Laoag City, and on the east by the municipality of Sarrat. It lies between latitude 18°06’ and 18°11’ and longitude 120°33’ and 120°38’.

It is located approximately 75 kilometers north of Vigan, Ilocos Sur; 214 kilometers from San Fernando, La Union; 271 kilometers from Baguio City and 485 kilometers north of Manila.

It can be reached by both air and land transportation coming from the north and south.

Land Area

According to the Forest Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), San Nicolas has a total land area of 3,976 hectares certified as alienable and disposable lands.  Per records of the Office of the Municipal Assessor, the municipality has a total area of 4,107 hectares while according to the Provincial Physical Framework Plan, the total area of San Nicolas is 4,930 hectares or 49.3 square kilometers. The data used for this purpose was based from the latter.

Political Subdivisions

San Nicolas has a total land area of 4,930 hectares or 49.30 square kilometers, classified as residential, commercial, agricultural, institutional, built-up areas etc.  It is composed of fifteen (15) urban and nine (9) rural barangays.

Topography and Slope

1. Mountain Ranges

The Municipality of San Nicolas is predominantly lowland.  However, from the east-north-east part of the town with an elevation ranging from 0-8% going south to Dingras-Batac-San Nicolas boundary are virgin hills and mountains with an elevation of 18-50% which are part of the Cordillera ranges.  These hills and mountains are forested areas.  Some parts of the Municipality are flood plains, their elevation being low and their location being affected by the Laoag River’s water table during rainy days.

2. Slopes

Lands within the poblacion and some parts of Barangay San Marcos, Sta. Cecilia, Sta. Monica and San Guillermo are level to flat with slope ranging from 0-3 percent with an approximate area of 4,054.11 hectares.  These lands are best suited for human settlements and crop production. Barangays San Lorenzo, Sta. Monica, some parts of Sta. Cecilia, San Marcos and San Guillermo have slopes ranging from 3-8% with an approximate area of 412.10 hectares suited for general crop production. Barangays located at the southeastern and southwestern part of the town with slopes ranging from 8-18% are also suited for crop production and pasture/brush land with combined area of 463.79 hectares.

LAND CAPABILITY CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:

Class A – Level to nearly level.  The soil is deep, fertile or well supplied with plant nutrient elements, well drained and easy to cultivate.  Erosion is not much of a problem.  This land is rarely flooded and is suited for the extensive cultivation and all crops common in the area can be grown.  Since soils under this class have good permeability.  Paddling the soil is usually necessary to minimize seepage.

Sub-Class Be – Nearly level to gently sloping land, and is slight to moderately eroded land.  It is deep with rather heavy subsoil.  The slope which in any place is not more then 8% makes the soil susceptible to moderate erosion.

Sub-Class Bw – It is nearly level except for few depressions appearing near large streams or low bottomlands.  Included under this sub-class are wet lands that can be easily drained and those with a high water table.  The soil is deep, while the subsoil is heavy.

Water Bodies

Geographically, San Nicolas is a land-locked town, without any portion of sea water within its territory.  It is deprived of marine life.  Neither does it enjoy thick wooden areas that can qualify as forest.  As a result, the area lacks wild animals.  However, it does have a small river area at the town’s northeastern area where the Padsan River flows.  It is here where the town has a share of the river’s fishes like carpa, trout, tilapia, lapes and others.  These fishes can also be found in the streams and springs found within the town.  At present, there are Small Water Impounding Projects (SWIP) in Barangays 17, 18 , 20 and 21.  These small reservoirs help in addressing the demand for fish.

Climate

Type
Based on modified corona classification, Ilocos Norte belongs to Type I.  This classification has been described in terms of rainfall distribution received in the locality.  It describes that there are “two pronounced seasons, dry form December to May and wet from June to November.  Maximum rain period is from June to September.  Areas characterized by this climate type are generally exposed to the southwest monsoon and get a fair share of rainfall brought about by the tropical cyclones occurring especially during the maximum rain period.”

Typhoon Frequencies

The municipality is visited by an average of six (6) typhoons annually. Usually, one typhoon occurs during the month of July, three (3) in August and three (3) in September. 

Frequency and Extent of Floods

There were devastating floods experienced in the years 1947, 1957, and 1967.  In 1986,  the south approach of the Gilbert Bridge was washed-out.   In the year 1996, a flood, which rose up to 5 feet hit Brgy. #24 Sta. Monica. Typhoons Feria and  Igme left the municipality heavily devastated in 2001 and 2004, respectively.  Occurrence of flood stopped when the Sabo Dam was constructed, the construction of reinforced canal at barangays 2 and 3 and the construction of drainage canal in barangay 1.