Clause VI of the "Royal Order of 22 August 1776", issued by King Charles III of Spain established that the town of Arizpe was the capital of the Western Internal Provinces, with jurisdiction over the Intendency of Arizona, The Californias, Sonora and Sinaloa, Nueva Vizcaya (nowadays Durango), and Chihuahua.

[2][3] In 1648 the mission of San José de Chinapa was founded, first functioning as a town to be visited by missionaries heading from Arizpe.

In September 1824, after the Independence of Mexico and the authorities of this area had sworn allegiance to the new government, the seat of the local powers was changed to El Fuerte, Sinaloa.

On October 31, 1825, the Constitution was reestablished, but Arizpe was not renamed a municipality since it did not meet the at least three thousand inhabitants required for the appointment.

Its territory limits to the North with the municipality of Cananea, to the Northeast with that of Bacoachi, to the East with that of Nacozari de García, to the Southeast with that of Cumpas, to the South with Banámichi, to the Southwest with Opodepe, to the West with Cucurpe, and to the Northwest with that of Ímuris.

The most important streams of the municipality of Arizpe are: Piedras de Lumbre, Cuevas, San Cristóbal, Agua Caliente, Basochuca, Toro Muerto, Nogalitos.

Towards the central and southern part the characteristic vegetation is made up of tropical scrub, palo dulce, copal, nopal, cat's claw and bilberry cactus.

The number of population that is not affiliated with a health service is 694 people, that is, 24.89% of the municipal total, otherwise, 75.04% does have medical insurance either public or private.

In the territory, 333 people (11.94%) have some disability or motor limit to carry out their daily activities, while 38 inhabitants (1.36%) have some mental problem or condition.

The council is made up of a municipal president, a syndic, three councilors with a relative majority and, two with proportional representation, and is assisted by delegates from the localities.