On November 5, 1932 the town and municipality was given its current name in honor of the revolutionary general, Jesus Carranza.

A famous Olmec statue, Senor de las Limas, was discovered in this area in 1965.

On October 28, 2007 a Pemex oil pipeline that passes through Jesus Carranza ruptured.

It has a tropical climate and big rivers, and has an average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius, with rains in November that can last for 30 days straight and a dry season in April, although climate change and land deterioration can cause large floods and an extended dry season that can kill ranch animals and wildlife.

There are many small animals that exist in the area such as wild boar, deer, iguanas, rabbit, reptiles, birds and armadillos.

Some of the natural resources in the area consist of sand, gravel, mahogany, cedar, zapote, ceiba.