Ballinasloe occupies a strategic location on the N6 National Primary route linking Dublin and Galway and is one of the principal gateways to the West. The town owes its origins to its location as a crossing point on the River Suck, a tributary of the Shannon, on the borders of Counties Galway and Roscommon.

It is the largest town in County Galway after Galway City, and its hinterland extends up to twelve miles from the town boundary into County Galway, and up to six miles into County Roscommon. The population of the town is over 6,000 and over 9,000 residing in the environs (according to the Census 2006). Ballinasloe is a prosperous and expanding town, and is the main commercial/industrial center for East Galway.

The town is within easy access of other major regional center's and functions mainly as:

• A commercial and market centre
• A centre for hospital and educational facilities
• A centre for Enterprise & Technology investment 
• A centre for manufacturing industry
• A centre for Research and Development

A central base for tourists, offering a plethora of leisure pursuits including coarse angling, boating, shooting, golf and horse riding and a marina.

Ballinasloe Urban District covers in excess of 4,000 acres, making it in geographical terms the third largest of Ireland's Town Authorities. Relative to other large towns, Ballinasloe would appear to have a low population density. This however, is more accurately explained by its large tracts of undeveloped lands including the Garbally Demesne and the Western Health Board lands in Creagh. Every October, Ballinasloe is host to one of Europe's oldest and largest Horse Fairs, dating back to the 1700's. This annual event attracts up to 100,000 visitors from all over the world, with many returning to the town year after year. This festival is one of the most important social and economic events in the life of the town. The town is also renowned for horse and pony riding, show jumping and other equestrian activities which take place throughout the year.

Ballinasloe is steeped in history, and has been lauded for the architectural character of its fine streetscapes. This planned layout of the town in the 19th Century consisting of wide streets, a market square, fair green, show grounds and town hall can be attributed to William Trench, who was conferred with the Earldom of Clancarty at this time. The town can trace its roots back even further with the existence of three ringforts in the town and two possible Crannog sites dating back to the 1st century. Three Medieval Tower Houses are located within the Urban District in addition to a well preserved Early medieval parish Church at Templepoilin Pollboy, built in about the 9th Century by the Augustinian Monks of Clontuskert.

The town derives its name from the ford of the River Suck near the old Norman castle at River Street, which became a meeting place for the hostings of the Connacht tribesmen, chiefs and warriors of Breifne and Meath. The ford became known as 'Beal Atha na Sluaigheadh' meaning the 'mouth of the ford of Hostings'.

Ballinasloe is also famous for its limestone which was used in many public buildings in the town as well as several important buildings nationally and internationally. The most recent example of note is Galway County Council's Civic Offices in Prospect Hill, Galway City, which were completed in 1999.