The name was given to honor General Mariano Ruiz (1846–1932), soldier of the Mexican Revolution and last political leader of the territory of Tepic, who lived in and supplied the settlement until 1910.
These Native Americans can often be seen in the main population center selling their traditional crafts and stocking up on provisions.
See detailed map at [2] The area of the municipality extends from the western lowlands to the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental.
The municipal seat is located on the coastal plain at an elevation of 30 meters above sea level.
The economy is based on agriculture with the main crops being: coffee, maize, sorghum, beans, pineapple, watermelon, tobacco, and chile.