Bangued is a first class municipality in the province of Abra. The name of Bangued means "roadblock". It is elongated in shape towards north and south, and bisected through the center by the large Abra River. It is 408 km from Manila, 197 km from Baguio City and 60 km from Vigan City.

It is situated in the western portion of the province with boundaries defined by the Province of Ilocos Norte and the Municipality of Danglas in the north; La Paz, Tayum and Peñarrubia in the east; San Isidro in the south, and Langiden and Pidigan in the west.

In 1958, it was established as a regular town and made the seat of the provincial government of Abra on July 25, 1861. The inauguration coincided with the feast day of Saint James the Great.

According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 38,965 in 7,971 households.

The early settlers were the Tingguians belonging to the Bago, Itneg, Masadjit, lbanao, Indayas tribes, who latter intermarried with the immigrants from Ilocos Sur. The Tingguians opposed the Christianization introduced by the Spanish friars who penetrated the eastern settlements. They prevented the Spaniards from penetrating their area of which they placed roadblocks on all roads leading to the place.

The climate falls under the first type of tropical climate, which is characterized by two pronounced seasons, dry from November to April and wet during the remaining months of the year. Prevailing wind blowing in the area is mostly in the direction from northwest to southeast. However, during summer in the absence of weather disturbance, wind blows from north to south or east to west.

Bangued is politically subsivided into 31 barangays with 77 sitios.

The economy of the municipality is heavily dependent on agriculture, followed by trade and industry.

Transportation include Passenger buses, mini-buses, jeepneys and tricycles.