| Atok | |||
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| — Municipality — | |||
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| Map of Benguet showing the location of Atok. | |||
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Atok
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Philippines | ||
| Region | Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) | ||
| Province | Benguet | ||
| District | Lone Congressional District of Benguet | ||
| Founded | |||
| Barangays | 8 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Concepcion Balao | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 215 km2 (83 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| • Total | 19,253 | ||
| • Density | 89.5/km2 (231.9/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) | ||
| ZIP code | 2612 | ||
| Income class | 4th class | ||
| Population Census of Atok | |||
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| Census | Pop. | Rate | |
| 1995 | 14,862 |
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| 2000 | 16,657 | 2.48% | |
| 2007 | 19,253 | 2.02% | |
Atok is a 4th class municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 19,253 people in 3,397 households.
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Atok has a land area of 22,385 hectares or 223.85 square kilometer. A great portion of the land is mountainous hence the highest point in the Philippine Highway System (Halsema Highway) is located in the municipality at 7,400 ft. above sea level.
Atok is centrally located in the heart of the province of Benguet. It is bounded by the municipality of Kibungan and Buguias on the north, the municipalities of the Kabayan and Bokod on the east, the municipality of Kapangan on the west and the municipality of Tublay on the south.
Since the municipality is one of Benguet's highland towns, the town's vegetable farmers have been hit three times by frost, causing millions of damage to crops.
The name of the municipality was derived from its location. It is a short term of the phrase Nay Patok shi chontog which means on the mountain top.
When the Americans came, the Philippine Commission enacted Act No. 48 on November 48 organizing the sub-province of Benguet into 19 towns: Baguio, La Trinidad, Galiano, Itogon, Tublay, Atok, Kapangan, Balakbak, Palina, Ampusongan, Loo Kabayan, Buguias, Adaoay, Bokod, Daklan, Sablan, Kibungan and Ambuklao.
In 1909, the town of Baguio became a chartered city and the number of towns of Benguet was reduced. Atok still stood as one.
During the Second World War, Atok was the scene of fierce pitch battles between the military forces of the 1st, 2nd, 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, 1st Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary, the USAFIP-NL 66th Infantry Regiments, the Igorot and Cordilleran guerrilla fighters and the Japanese Imperial Army forces. This is so because of the terrain along the Halsema road which is suited and ideal for the Filipino troops and guerrillas to mount ambushes and use the Philippine Commonwealth military and recognized guerrilla’s strategy of fighting. The place is now called the “Guerilla Saddle” located at km. 26, Caliking, Atok.
On June 25, 1963, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Executive Order No. 42 converting eight (8) of the thirteen towns (13) of Benguet into regular municipalities. Atok was among them.
Atok is politically subdivided into 8 barangays.
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