SONOYTA

'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.

Contents

Demographics

History

Education

Traffic

Present Day

References

External Links

Demographics

According to the 2005 Census;
The city had a population of 10,061 inhabitants while the municipality had 12,416 inhabitants. 5,142 inhabitants were male and 4,919 inhabitants were female. 76.1 percent of the population over five years of age are of the catholic religion, 13.0 percent are of the evangelical religion and the remainder 10.9 percent belong to other religions.

History

The first inhabitants of this region were Pápagos (Tohono O'odham) and they lived in the regions of the Pinacate, Quitovac, and Sonoyta. They were generally nomads that were dedicated to harvesting and hunting. The arrival of the Jesuits missionaries to this zone changed the system of life for this group of Indians. 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 (High Hill), sprouted water from a fountain, called by the naturals “sonoydag”, a Pápago word that can be interpreted like "trunk where water sprouts". This place was considered by the Jesuits a missionary community and was founded in 1694; they called it “San Marcelo de Sonoyta”, at present municipal head.
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 of 1989, when a new municipality was created and called General Plutarco Elías Calles, as a social, political, and historic need.

Education

The Municipality counts on an educational infrastructure of 10 preschools, 15 elementary schools, 5 junior high and high schools, 2 medium professional and a 1 accredited college.

Traffic

Sonoyta is situated on am important crossroads of highways.
First, the federal highway 2 Mexicali-Caborca
crosses here. Second, a road leading toward Lukeville, Arizona (U.S.-Mexico border of Sonoyta)
crosses the city. This road also travels to Puerto Peñasco, Sonora
(a favorite place for many Americans).

Present Day

Sonoyta is well known as an immigrant crossing-point to the United States. Many illigal immigrants use the town to make final preparations for a treacherous trek through the Sonoran desert. On this long desert march, illegal immigrants 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 urbanizations as well as a downtown filled with many small stores and markets. There are also services of major companies, such as Pemex and Banamex, available. The town has no airport, but major airports are located in the nearby cities of Mexicali, Sonora; Hermosillo, Sonora; Yuma, Arizona; Phoenix, Arizona; and Tucson, Arizona, all of which are accessed by car in five hours or less. An international airport in Puerto Peñasco is scheduled to open in 2008.
The border between Sonoyta and Lukeville, Arizona, closes at midnight MST every day and re-opens at 06:00 AM MST the following day.

References

★ [1]

★ www.e-local.gob.mx

★ www.inegi.gob.mx

★ www.sonora.gob.mx

★ www.e-local.gob.mx

External Links

★ Aerial Photos Google Maps
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