El Arenal is known as the gateway to the so-called "blue agave" region in the Jaliscan Highlands (Los Altos de Jalisco).

In the upper part there are some mounds of sand, an abundant material at the time of the first settlement, which gave its name to the municipality, and an agave plant, the cultivation of which has become economically important in the region.

In the lower sections are the figures of a milpa (cultivated field ) and a cow, representing local agriculture, the main economic activity.

In the upper central part, crowning the shield, the legend appears: "Homeland, Loyalty and Work", values ascribed to the natives of this municipality.

Its primitive settlers were Nahoa s. Shortly before the arrival of the conquerors, the Purépecha people found the region in its failed attempt to seize the salt flats on the beaches.

By decree number 2270, published on June 5 of 1923, the El Arenal police station was made a municipality.

The municipality of Arenal is located in the northwest of the state, at coordinates 20º42'44 to 20º52'15 north latitude and 103º37'04 at 103º42'45 west longitude, at an altitude of 1450 meters above sea level.

It is considered within the Tertiary Period; The subsoil is made up of limestone, extrusive igneous rocks, rhyolite, andesite, basalt, tuff and volcanic gap.

The composition of the soil corresponds to those of the haplic Feozem type associated with the eutrophic Regosol and pelvic Vertisol.

Its mineral resources are deposits of non-metallic elements: lime, quarry, sand, gravel, clay, kaolin, diatamite, quartz and feldspar.

The social welfare area is covered by the System for the Integral Development of the Family (DIF), through the Municipal Committee in support of its different programs.

The predominant materials in the construction of the houses are mostly adobe and in a smaller proportion of partition walls, with tile roofs and brick vaults.