The town was named in 1880 in honor of Donato Guerra, a distinguished soldier of the War of La Reforma.

It is located around 77 kilometers from Toluca which is the capital of the state, on Federal Highway number 35 Mexico City - Zitácuaro.

As late as 1727, the town still had a commissioner of the Spanish Inquisition, naming lawyer Jose Bernal and Mendoza in that year.

On October 30, 1810, the Battle of Monte de las Cruces took place with what is now the current municipality, where the forces of General Miguel Hidalgo triumphed.

[1] Donato Guerra is located in the region known as Sierra Mil Cumbres, with the peaks of this mountain area reaching 3,040 meters above sea level.

The main kinds of trees are pine, cedar, eucalyptus, ash, weeping willow, and oak.

There are also some plants that can be used for medicinal purposes such as: epazote, chamomile, yerba buena, wormwood, arnica, juniper, clover, papalo, pig weed, and fennel.

[3] Avian life is constituted by huilotas, carpenter birds, owls, buzzards, falcons, orn ravens, and pigeons.

However, some industry exists in small factories, family workshops and craft cooperatives, clothes, shoes and bakeries.