Jaranwala is about 400 years old city. There was a well with big roots hanging in it of an old willow tree. In Punjabi language roots are called "Jaraan" and place is called "Wala". So, these both words combined and formed the shape of a name "Jaranwala". By the passage of time, the place called Jaranwala and later on this name became famous and the city was also called Jaranwala. Existing city was founded by British government in 1908. Mr. Micheal Ferrar, Deputy Commissioner of Faisalabad has inaugurated this town in 1909. Rai Ahmad Khral and Bhagat Singh two famous freedom fighters were sons of historic city of Jaranwala. Mian Abdul Bari a freedom fighter and President of All India Muslim League District Paghwara and Then Lyallpur district was settled in Jaranwala after partition.

Jaranwala Town is the headquarter of the Tehsil Jaranwala under the jurisdiction of Faisalabad district which is located from 30^o- 42’ to 30^o- 47' North latitudes and 72^o-40’ to 73^o  to 40’ East longitude. The city is located at 31°- 20' North latitude and 73° -25’ East longitude. Jaranwala is situated at a distance of 37 kilometers from Faisalabad towards south-east, on Lahore-Faisalabad road and Jaranwala-Khurrianwala road. The Sheikhupura-Shorkot railway line also passes through this city. It is connected by regular bus services with Lahore and Faisalabad.

In 1909 a town was established near the old Abadi and was named after the then British Deputy Commissioner, however, his name could not survive against the old name of Jaranwala. In 1912 Jaranwala was declared as a notified area. It was made a Town Committee in 1924 and became a Municipal Committee in 1935.

Population of the city as per District Census Report 1998 was 106,985 persons with annual growth rate of 2.57% which if projected at this growth rate should be 173,264 persons in year 2017. The census report of year 2017 has not been published by Government of Pakistan as yet. However as per provincial data released by the concerned ministry, the population of the city in the year 2017 was 150,380 persons. The city has extended its inhabitation much beyond the existing municipal limits and as per land scans process performed by PMDFC, the city had population of 244,972 persons in the year 2017. The large disparity in population figures shows that the municipal limits of the city need to be extended by incorporating the newly developed inhabitation as municipal services are to be provided to the entire inhabited areas of the city.

Jaranwala hosts the 3rd largest jute mill in the world (it is closed now a days). The city of Jaranwala shares in growth of Pakistan with sugar, chemical, textile, wheat and rice industry. Surroundings of Jaranwala are also famous for its dairy products.