Álamos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Álamos, Sonora
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Top, from left to right: Panoramic view of Álamos, Chapel of Zapopan, Semi-arid municipality landscape, City Hall, Cathedral of Purísima Concepción
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 Álamos, Sonora
Location in Sonora
Álamos, Sonora
Location in Mexico
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| Country |  Mexico |
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| State | Sonora | |
| Municipality | Álamos | |
| Founded | Late 17th century | |
| Population
(2005)
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| • Total | 24,493 | |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) | |
| Postal code |
85760
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| Area code(s) | 647 | |
Álamos is a historic town in the Mexican state of Sonora. It is located in northwestern Mexico. The town is part of the Álamos Municipality.
In the past, Álamos was a very important place for silver mining. Today, its main business is tourism. The town is known as a "Pueblo Mágico" (Magical Town) because of its beautiful old buildings. Álamos also hosts several art festivals. The most famous one is the Festival Cultural "Alfonso Ortíz Tirado".
Álamos is also home to the Alamos Alliance. This is a yearly meeting where important people discuss economic ideas. Because of this, some call Álamos the "Little Mexican Davos".
What Does the Name Álamos Mean?
The name Álamos comes from the Spanish word álamo. This word means "poplar" or "cottonwood" tree. You can see several large poplar trees in one of the town's main squares, the Alameda.
A nearby small village, El Sabinito, also gets its name from a tree. Sabino means "Montezuma cypress".
A Look Back: The History of Álamos
The area around Álamos was first named by the Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado. In 1540, his group camped near where Álamos is today. They saw two large rock formations on Mount Alamos that looked like monks. These rocks were called Los Frailes, meaning 'the monks'.
Because of these rocks, the area was first known as Real de los Frailes. This means "Mining Camp of the Friars".
The town of Álamos was officially founded on December 8, 1685. This happened after silver mines were found nearby. The Spanish soldier Domingo Terán de los Ríos founded the town. He later became the governor of Sonora and Sinaloa.
In 1775, a big expedition started from Álamos. Led by Juan Bautista de Anza II, it aimed to find a route to Alta California (which is now California in the U.S.). About half of the nearly 300 people on this journey were from Álamos. Rich silver mine owners from Álamos helped pay for this trip. The expedition helped establish the Presidio of Monterey.
In the early 1800s, Álamos became the capital of the state of Occidental. This state included parts of today's Sonora, Sinaloa, Baja California, and southern Arizona. Álamos was the most northern "Silver City" in Mexico. It has many old buildings, like other Mexican "Silver Cities". But Álamos has kept its old charm and slow pace.
Álamos is also known as "La Ciudad de los Portales". Portales are tall, arched, covered walkways that are found in front of many streets. The town has many buildings with classic Spanish architecture. These include old mansions, the Plaza de Armas, and the Church of La Purísima Concepción.
The silver mines made the people of Álamos very wealthy. They built many grand colonial Spanish mansions. Many of these buildings fell into ruin in the early 1900s. But in the late 1940s, people from America and Canada started buying and fixing them up.
One important person was William Levant Alcorn, an American farmer. He bought and restored a mansion and opened a hotel. His work helped bring new life and money to Álamos.
By 1955, Álamos had electricity for part of the day. By 1960, it had electricity 24 hours a day. In the 1980s, a study listed 185 buildings in town as historic monuments.
The Alamos Alliance, a group that discusses economic policy, began in 1993.
Where is Álamos Located?
Álamos is in the southeastern part of Sonora, Mexico. It is about 396 kilometers (246 miles) from Hermosillo, the state capital. It is also 54 kilometers (34 miles) from Navojoa. The state of Chihuahua is to the east, and Sinaloa is to the south. The municipality has about 24,493 people. Its area is about 6,947 square kilometers (2,682 square miles).
What is the Climate Like?
Álamos has a semi-arid climate. This means it is often dry. It has three main seasons:
- A hot, dry season from April to June.
- A hot, wet season from July to October.
- A warm, mostly dry "winter" from November to March.
Sometimes, it can rain a lot in winter. For example, in January 1981, 220 mm (8.7 inches) of rain fell. Temperatures can get very high in early summer. The highest recorded temperature was 49.5 °C (121.1 °F) in June 1976.
| Climate data for Álamos (1951-2010) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 41.5 (106.7) |
44.0 (111.2) |
44.0 (111.2) |
43.0 (109.4) |
48.0 (118.4) |
49.5 (121.1) |
45.5 (113.9) |
44.0 (111.2) |
46.0 (114.8) |
43.0 (109.4) |
39.0 (102.2) |
39.0 (102.2) |
49.5 (121.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 27.8 (82.0) |
28.8 (83.8) |
30.2 (86.4) |
32.5 (90.5) |
35.2 (95.4) |
38.0 (100.4) |
36.2 (97.2) |
35.1 (95.2) |
35.2 (95.4) |
34.4 (93.9) |
31.7 (89.1) |
28.6 (83.5) |
32.8 (91.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 9.2 (48.6) |
9.5 (49.1) |
10.2 (50.4) |
11.6 (52.9) |
14.1 (57.4) |
18.2 (64.8) |
19.8 (67.6) |
20.1 (68.2) |
18.4 (65.1) |
15.2 (59.4) |
11.5 (52.7) |
9.5 (49.1) |
13.9 (57.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 0.0 (32.0) |
−4 (25) |
2.0 (35.6) |
5.0 (41.0) |
6.5 (43.7) |
8.0 (46.4) |
9.0 (48.2) |
9.5 (49.1) |
1.3 (34.3) |
6.5 (43.7) |
0.4 (32.7) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−4 (25) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 35.0 (1.38) |
17.9 (0.70) |
17.8 (0.70) |
1.9 (0.07) |
3.9 (0.15) |
25.5 (1.00) |
184.4 (7.26) |
198.2 (7.80) |
86.3 (3.40) |
53.1 (2.09) |
26.3 (1.04) |
37.0 (1.46) |
687.3 (27.05) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 12.8 | 11.0 | 6.8 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 45.4 |
| Source: Servicio Meteorólogico Nacional | |||||||||||||
What is the Economy of Álamos Like?
After the silver mines closed in the early 1900s, Álamos faced hard times. Many people left, and the town became very quiet. Old mansions fell apart. But in 1946, people from other countries started buying and restoring these homes. This brought jobs to local people.
Today, Álamos still has copper and silver mines. Ranching (raising cattle) is also done, but it is seasonal. There are also many chicken and pig farms. The Adolfo Ruiz Cortinez Dam nearby helps water farms.
Tourism in Álamos
In 2005, Álamos was named a "Pueblo Mágico" (Magical Town). This special title is given to towns that are beautiful, culturally rich, or historically important.
Álamos has many festivals all year. The most famous is the Festival of Dr. Alfonso Ortiz Tirado (FAOT). This nine-day event happens in late January. It brings together many musicians and famous people. Dr. Alfonso Ortiz Tirado was a famous singer born in Álamos in 1894. You can learn about him at the Museo Costumbrista.
The town also hosts an annual film festival in March. Many people come to Álamos for hunting, especially for doves. Álamos has also been used as a filming location for TV shows.
The Sierra de Álamos–Río Cuchujaqui Biosphere Reserve is a great place for "birding" (watching birds). The Cuchujaqui creek in this reserve has many different kinds of plants and animals. It is a very rich subtropical area in the Northern Hemisphere. Many different bird species migrate here for the winter.
Álamos has an airport that attracts pilots from Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. You can also find over 20 hotels and bed and breakfasts in the town.
Famous People from Álamos
- María Félix, a famous film actress
- Gloria Fonda, a silent film actress
- Arturo Márquez, a well-known composer
- Alfonso Ortiz Tirado, a doctor, singer, and helper of others
- Félix María Zuloaga, a former President of Mexico
- José Rafael Campoy, a Mexican Jesuit, teacher, and scholar
- Álvaro Obregón, a general in the Mexican Revolution and President of Mexico
- José Vicente Feliz, an early settler of Los Angeles
- Leopoldo Verdugo Quiroz, a politician
- David Zepeda, an actor
Sister City
Álamos on Mars?
The name Álamos has been used for a crater on the planet Mars. This was done by the International Astronomical Union. It does not specifically honor the town, but it shares the same name!
See also
In Spanish: Álamos (Sonora) para niños
