The municipality covers an area of 1,578.3 km2 (609.4 sq mi), which also includes the remote Revillagigedo Islands.

[1] There were no presidents of the City Council until June 20, 1873, when by instructions of the governor of Colima Francisco Santa Cruz, through decree 147 published in the Official State Gazette, the municipality of Manzanillo was erected.

From then until 1946, the terms of government of the municipal presidents were one year and with the possibility of being reelected Starting in 1946, the period of government of the municipal presidents was raised to three years.

However, for 1955 adjustments were made so that the terms of the municipal administrations were concurrent with those of the state governor.

At this stage, several elected presidents requested a license to compete for other positions of popular election, for which they had to be replaced in their position, except for Professor Alberto Larios Gaytán, who died in office