The El Berrendo/Antelope Wells border crossing is located in the municipality.

[1] Other than the town of Janos, the municipality had 315 localities, the largest of which (with 2010 populations in parentheses) was: Monte Verde (Altamira) (1,087), classified as rural.

Franciscan missionaries originally built a mission in the location in 1640, under the name Soledad de Janos.

The mission did not, however, survive a series of revolts by indigenous people and was replaced on 16 October 1686 by a military presidio under Gen. Juan Fernández de la Fuente.

The presidio defended the area from attacks from Apache raiders until the municipality was established in 1820.