The earliest recorded date for the first existence of the Municipality of Nabas was in 1845, when it was a little village called Alimbo, named after a river, the delta of which it now occupies. It was part of the vast territorial extent of the municipality of Ibajay in the province of Capiz. The people of this Municipality (Ibajay) then spoke two dialects – in the Western side which constitute now the municipality of Nabas, spoke our present dialect; similar to the one spoken by the people of Antique, and in the eastern side which constitutes now the Municipality of Ibajay, people spoke the dialect generally used by the people of most towns in Aklan.

Aware of the growing population whose dialect and customs differ from those of the eastern side of the municipality, the people of barrio Alimbo along with its neighboring barrios of Panaytayon (now Toledo), Gibon, Pakilawa (now Unidos), Namao (now Rizal), Kabangrusan (now Union) and Nagustan, worked for their separation to compose a municipality. In 1854, the municipality was formed and named Navas, after Governor Nava of the province of Capiz who came to inspect the area before its creation. Don Tiburcio Jamangal was recorded the first Capitan or Mayor of the town until 1860.

Nabas has been variably spelled as Navas and Nabas until the Municipal Council passed and approved a resolution in 1906 adopting Nabas as the official name of the municipality.

The residents of Nabas speaks Nabasnon, a variant of Karay-a and quite similar to Onhan Language of Tablas Island in Romblon. The eastern half of the municipality has the accent influenced and similar to Karay-a, spoken by the neighboring Antiqueños particularly the people from the towns Libertad, Pandan, and Sebaste of Antique. Those in the western half speak similar to the dialect currently regarded as Malaynon with softer intonation. Aklanon, Tagalog and Hiligaynon are also used as regional languages. Gee-words, an argot language has been popular among teenagers for over a decade.

Nabas, a 4th class municipality, is noted for its hat and mat industry made of indigenous bariw leaves which abound on the hillsides and plain lowlands of the town. It is likewise a farming and fishing community with its vast lowlands and elongated strips of shoreline. While the cost of marine commodity has soared due to the proximity of Nabas to Boracay Island, the fishermen remained impoverished.

One of the most imposing presence in Nabas is PetroWind Energy Inc. 36-megawatt wind farm in Pawa. An array of gigantic wind turbines lined-up along a mountain ridge aimed to spur tourism and add livelihood in the area.

The town serves as a satellite area for the expansion of tourism from the traditional town of Malay to expand and stretch developments to Nabas. The proposed Boracay Island Development Authority (BIDA) is said to cover 4 baranggays in the town of Nabas. Construction project in Brgy. Union is a hotel owned by Marriott and San Miguel Corporation. This facility will surely be a gamechanger that can catapult the economic growth of Nabas and become the next big thing in Panay Island.

Aside from Marriott, more developments are expected in the municipality with the construction of the new terminal building of Boracay Airport in Brgy Union, and the expansion of Petrowind Windmill Farm in Brgy Pawa. San Miguel Corporation will also develop a 130-hectare property in the said area.

With all of these investments in Nabas, It is not impossible that in the near future, the town will transform from a mere fourth class municipality into a bustling and modern city in the Province of Aklan.