Located in the West Arsi Zone of the Oromia Region on the paved highway north of Shashamane, this town has a longitude and latitude of 7°21′N 38°42′E / 7.350°N 38.700°E / 7.350; 38.700 and an elevation of 2,043 meters above sea level.

[1] The town's economic catchment extends beyond the woreda, attracting peasants from Shashamene woreda who trade cereal and potatoes for cattle and seeds at the weekly market, which is held each Monday.

By the early 1970s, half of Arsi Negele District was owned by his descendants.

The town was used as a mobilization point for units of the regular army during 1971, whence they responded to the disorders that followed evictions when landowners mechanised farms.

[1] Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, Negele Arsi has an estimated total population of 42,054, of whom 21,120 are men and 20,934 are women.