Sonoita
Encyclopedia
Sonoyta, Sonora is a town in the northern Mexican state
of Sonora
. It stands on the U.S.-Mexico border, facing Lukeville, Arizona
, in the United States
. It is the municipal seat of the municipality of Plutarco Elías Calles
.
, 13.0 percent are Evangelicals
, and the remaining 10.9 percent belong to other religions.
were the Tohono O'odham
, who lived in the regions of Pinacate, Quitovac, and Sonoyta. The arrival of Jesuit missionaries
to this zone changed their way of life. Therefore, compact communities were formed mainly on the banks of lakes and of the river. At the foothills of a spot known as Loma Alta, sprouted water from a fountain, called by the naturals Ṣon Oidag, O'odham
for "base of the water". A missionary community was founded in Sonoyta in 1694. It was called San Marcelo de Sonoyta.
In 1836 they discovered adjoining mines. Sonoyta was dependent to the municipality of the District of Altar during periods of the 19th century. After the Revolution it belonged to the municipality of Caborca, Sonora through the Law No. 136 of July 9, 1952. Then it separated from the municipality of Caborca and belonged to the municipality of Puerto Peñasco, Sonora until August 1989, when a new municipality was created and called General Plutarco Elías Calles, as a social, political, and historic need.
For a long time the border crossing was very busy with imports/exports, but after an internal change to customs laws in Mexico, import/export business dwindled. This led to heavy migration to other cities during the late 1980s to mid 1990s.
leading toward Lukeville, Arizona
(U.S.-Mexico border of Sonoyta) crosses the city. This road also travels to Puerto Peñasco, Sonora.
. On this long desert march, migrants often face death, especially during the summer season.
Conversely, the town is used as a crossover point for American tourists headed to Puerto Peñasco, Sonora or other cities in Northern Mexico. Puerto Peñasco, a popular beach city, is located about 60 miles (100 km) southwest on Highway 8
.
Sonoyta features many urban features, as well as a downtown with many small stores and markets. Services of major companies, such as Pemex
and Banamex, are available. And major airports are located in Mexicali, Baja California
; Hermosillo, Sonora; Yuma, Arizona
; Phoenix, Arizona
; and Tucson, Arizona
, all within five hours or less by car. Puerto Peñasco International Airport
also serves Sonoyta residents since 2008; this airport, however, has no commercial airline service.
The border between Sonoyta and Lukeville, Arizona, is open from 6AM until midnight MST.
States of Mexico
The United Mexican States is a federal republic formed by 32 federal entities .According to the Constitution of 1917, the states of the federation are free and sovereign. Each state has their own congress and constitution, while the Federal District has only limited autonomy with a local Congress...
of Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
. It stands on the U.S.-Mexico border, facing Lukeville, Arizona
Lukeville, Arizona
Lukeville is a small unincorporated community on the U.S.-Mexico border in southern Pima County, Arizona, United States.The community consists of the international border crossing into Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico, together with a gas station, a duty free shop, a few outlets that sell Mexican automobile...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the municipal seat of the municipality of Plutarco Elías Calles
Plutarco Elías Calles, Sonora
Plutarco Elías Calles is a municipality in the northwest of the Mexican state of Sonora. Its municipal seat and main urban center is Sonoyta, on the United States border opposite Lukeville, Arizona....
.
Demographics
According to the 2010 census, the city had 12,849 inhabitants while the surrounding municipality had 15,652 inhabitants. There were 6,613 male inhabitants and 6,236 female. 76.1 percent of the population over five years of age are Roman CatholicCatholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
, 13.0 percent are Evangelicals
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
, and the remaining 10.9 percent belong to other religions.
History
The first inhabitants of this regionRegion
Region is most commonly found as a term used in terrestrial and astrophysics sciences also an area, notably among the different sub-disciplines of geography, studied by regional geographers. Regions consist of subregions that contain clusters of like areas that are distinctive by their uniformity...
were the Tohono O'odham
Tohono O'odham
The Tohono O'odham are a group of Native American people who reside primarily in the Sonoran Desert of the southeastern Arizona and northwest Mexico...
, who lived in the regions of Pinacate, Quitovac, and Sonoyta. The arrival of Jesuit missionaries
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
to this zone changed their way of life. Therefore, compact communities were formed mainly on the banks of lakes and of the river. At the foothills of a spot known as Loma Alta, sprouted water from a fountain, called by the naturals Ṣon Oidag, O'odham
O'odham language
O'odham is an Uto-Aztecan language of southern Arizona and northern Sonora where the Tohono O'odham and Pima reside. As of the year 2000, there were estimated to be approximately 9750 speakers in the United States and Mexico combined, although there may be more due to underreporting...
for "base of the water". A missionary community was founded in Sonoyta in 1694. It was called San Marcelo de Sonoyta.
In 1836 they discovered adjoining mines. Sonoyta was dependent to the municipality of the District of Altar during periods of the 19th century. After the Revolution it belonged to the municipality of Caborca, Sonora through the Law No. 136 of July 9, 1952. Then it separated from the municipality of Caborca and belonged to the municipality of Puerto Peñasco, Sonora until August 1989, when a new municipality was created and called General Plutarco Elías Calles, as a social, political, and historic need.
For a long time the border crossing was very busy with imports/exports, but after an internal change to customs laws in Mexico, import/export business dwindled. This led to heavy migration to other cities during the late 1980s to mid 1990s.
Education
The Municipality has 10 preschools, 15 elementary schools, 5 junior high and high schools, 2 medium professional and a 1 accredited college.Traffic
Sonoyta is situated at an important crossroads. Federal Highway 2 crosses here. Federal Highway 8Mexican Federal Highway 8
Federal Highway 8 is a federal highway in the Mexican state of Sonora. It connects Puerto Peñasco with Sonoita, Sonora, where it intersects Mexican Federal Highway 2 and crosses the U.S. border to join Arizona State Route 85 in Lukeville, Arizona....
leading toward Lukeville, Arizona
Lukeville, Arizona
Lukeville is a small unincorporated community on the U.S.-Mexico border in southern Pima County, Arizona, United States.The community consists of the international border crossing into Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico, together with a gas station, a duty free shop, a few outlets that sell Mexican automobile...
(U.S.-Mexico border of Sonoyta) crosses the city. This road also travels to Puerto Peñasco, Sonora.
Present day
Sonoyta is well known as an immigrant crossing-point to the United States. Many migrants use the town to make final preparations for a treacherous trek through the Sonoran DesertSonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is a North American desert which straddles part of the United States-Mexico border and covers large parts of the U.S. states of Arizona and California and the northwest Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. It is one of the largest and hottest...
. On this long desert march, migrants often face death, especially during the summer season.
Conversely, the town is used as a crossover point for American tourists headed to Puerto Peñasco, Sonora or other cities in Northern Mexico. Puerto Peñasco, a popular beach city, is located about 60 miles (100 km) southwest on Highway 8
Mexican Federal Highway 8
Federal Highway 8 is a federal highway in the Mexican state of Sonora. It connects Puerto Peñasco with Sonoita, Sonora, where it intersects Mexican Federal Highway 2 and crosses the U.S. border to join Arizona State Route 85 in Lukeville, Arizona....
.
Sonoyta features many urban features, as well as a downtown with many small stores and markets. Services of major companies, such as Pemex
Pemex
Petróleos Mexicanos or Pemex is a Mexican state-owned petroleum company. As of 2010, with a total asset worth of $415.75 billion, it is the second non-publicly listed largest company in the world by total market value, and Latin America's second largest enterprise by annual revenue as of 2009...
and Banamex, are available. And major airports are located in Mexicali, Baja California
Mexicali
Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
; Hermosillo, Sonora; Yuma, Arizona
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
; Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
; and Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, all within five hours or less by car. Puerto Peñasco International Airport
Puerto Peñasco International Airport
Puerto Peñasco International Airport is an international airport located at Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico, a city near the U.S.-Mexico border, on the Gulf of California coast. It is also a port of entry into Mexico. Most of the operations are general aviation.-External links:*...
also serves Sonoyta residents since 2008; this airport, however, has no commercial airline service.
The border between Sonoyta and Lukeville, Arizona, is open from 6AM until midnight MST.
External links
- Aerial Photos Google Maps