Tarlac's name is a Hispanized derivation from a talahib weed called tarlak, an Aeta term.

[5] The area around the current capital city was described as matarlak or malatarlak, a word meaning "abundant with tarlak grass.

On June 21, 1969, President Ferdinand Marcos signed and approved the Republic Act 5907, converting this municipality into a city.

On April 21, 1990, the barangays of Burgos, David, Iba, Labney, Lawacamulag, Lubigan, Maamot, Mababanaba, Moriones, Pao, San Juan de Valdez, Sula, and Villa Aglipay, originally part of the then-municipality of Tarlac, separated and formed to be the part of San Jose.

To its north is Gerona and Santa Ignacia, west is San Jose, south is Capas and Concepcion and eastern boundaries are Victoria and La Paz.

Parts of Tarlac City are claimed to be among the few portions of land in the province which was not created by ancient eruptions from Mount Pinatubo.

The majority of Christians are Roman Catholics followed by a large concentration of Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ).

To name a few, there is the SM City Tarlac, which is the first SM Supermall in the Tarlac Province, located along McArthur Highway in San Roque; Plaza Luisita Mall, which is the first shopping center in Central Luzon (now Robinsons Luisita); the Magic Star Mall along Romulo Blvd.

Tarlac City is the usual bus stop for commuters traveling from the South to the Ilocos Region and Cordillera provinces.

Many of the bus companies' rest stops can be found along MacArthur Highway including Siesta and Motorway.

The 3 expressways serves as an alternate route for motorists going to the other parts of Northern Luzon area such as Cagayan Valley, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, La Union and Baguio while in the Marcos Highway via TPLEX and Kennon Road from McArthur Highway.