Agua Prieta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Agua Prieta, Sonora
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| Agua Prieta | ||
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 Agua Prieta, Sonora
Location in Sonora
Agua Prieta, Sonora
Location in Mexico
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| Country |  Mexico |
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| State | Sonora | |
| Municipality | Agua Prieta | |
| Settled | 1899 | |
| Founded | 1903 | |
| Incorporated | August 28, 1916 | |
| Ascension to town status | May 8, 1933 | |
| Ascension to city status | November 6, 1942 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 3,631.65 km2 (1,402.2 sq mi) | |
| Population
(2020)
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91,029 | |
Agua Prieta is a city in the state of Sonora, Mexico. It is located in the northeastern part of the state. The city sits right on the border between Mexico and the United States. Across the border, you'll find the town of Douglas, Arizona.
The area around Agua Prieta covers about 3,631 square kilometers (1,402 square miles). In 2010, about 79,138 people lived in the city. This made it the seventh-largest community in Sonora. Most people in Agua Prieta, about 96.3%, can read and write.
The most important jobs in Agua Prieta are in factories, shops, and farms. Most homes have electricity and running water. Many are also connected to the sewer system. The city has a power plant called CFE Agua Prieta. You can cross into the U.S. through the Douglas Port of Entry. Mexican Federal Highways 2 and 17 connect Agua Prieta to other parts of Mexico.
The name "Agua Prieta" means "dark water" in Spanish. In the Opata language, it is called Bachicuy.
Contents
History of Agua Prieta
Agua Prieta started as a small settlement in the late 1800s. This happened when railroads were built. These railroads connected Douglas, Arizona, to Nacozari, Sonora. They were used to move minerals and other goods.
The first people to live here worked for an American mining company. This company, called Phelps Dodge Corporation, was based in Douglas, Arizona. The town was first settled around 1899.
In 1903, an agreement was made to make the area a part of Fronteras county. Agua Prieta officially became its own independent municipality on August 28, 1916. Rodolfo L. Márquez was the first leader of this new municipality.
The town grew and was called a villa (a larger town) on May 8, 1933. It became an official city on November 6, 1942.
Geography and Climate
What is the Climate Like in Agua Prieta?
Agua Prieta has a cold semi-arid climate. This means it's often dry. Winters are cold, and summers are very hot. The temperature can change a lot between day and night.
Most of the year, there isn't much rain. But a good amount of rain falls in July and August.
| Climate data for Agua Prieta (Infonavit 1), elevation: 1,210 metres (3,970 ft), 1951–2010 normals, extremes 1961–2016 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 30.0 (86.0) |
32.0 (89.6) |
35.0 (95.0) |
38.0 (100.4) |
42.0 (107.6) |
45.0 (113.0) |
44.0 (111.2) |
42.0 (107.6) |
41.0 (105.8) |
38.0 (100.4) |
36.0 (96.8) |
31.0 (87.8) |
45.0 (113.0) |
| Mean maximum °C (°F) | 23.9 (75.0) |
24.2 (75.6) |
26.6 (79.9) |
31.1 (88.0) |
33.9 (93.0) |
39.0 (102.2) |
38.6 (101.5) |
36.5 (97.7) |
34.8 (94.6) |
33.2 (91.8) |
28.4 (83.1) |
24.3 (75.7) |
39.0 (102.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 16.6 (61.9) |
18.7 (65.7) |
22.0 (71.6) |
26.1 (79.0) |
30.8 (87.4) |
35.6 (96.1) |
35.1 (95.2) |
33.6 (92.5) |
31.8 (89.2) |
27.5 (81.5) |
21.6 (70.9) |
17.0 (62.6) |
26.4 (79.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 8.0 (46.4) |
9.8 (49.6) |
12.9 (55.2) |
16.6 (61.9) |
21.1 (70.0) |
25.9 (78.6) |
27.2 (81.0) |
26.1 (79.0) |
23.6 (74.5) |
18.2 (64.8) |
12.2 (54.0) |
8.2 (46.8) |
17.5 (63.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.7 (30.7) |
0.9 (33.6) |
3.7 (38.7) |
7.0 (44.6) |
11.5 (52.7) |
16.2 (61.2) |
19.4 (66.9) |
18.6 (65.5) |
15.6 (60.1) |
9.0 (48.2) |
2.9 (37.2) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
8.6 (47.5) |
| Mean minimum °C (°F) | −5.7 (21.7) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
0.4 (32.7) |
3.6 (38.5) |
7.7 (45.9) |
12.2 (54.0) |
17.3 (63.1) |
15.7 (60.3) |
12.9 (55.2) |
5.3 (41.5) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−5.7 (21.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −12.5 (9.5) |
−12.0 (10.4) |
−9.0 (15.8) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
2.1 (35.8) |
2.0 (35.6) |
10.0 (50.0) |
2.0 (35.6) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
−8.5 (16.7) |
−19.5 (−3.1) |
−19.5 (−3.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 19.9 (0.78) |
17.1 (0.67) |
10.6 (0.42) |
6.3 (0.25) |
5.2 (0.20) |
12.2 (0.48) |
90.4 (3.56) |
81.4 (3.20) |
41.6 (1.64) |
23.4 (0.92) |
19.0 (0.75) |
28.1 (1.11) |
355.2 (13.98) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 0.51 (0.2) |
0.25 (0.1) |
0.25 (0.1) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.25 (0.1) |
0.76 (0.3) |
2.02 (0.8) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 3.5 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 11.2 | 9.3 | 5.2 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 3.9 | 48.8 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1 |
| Source 1: SMN | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA (snow days) | |||||||||||||
Culture and Music
Agua Prieta is known for its music. A famous band from the 1960s, Los Apson, came from here. Their name comes from (A)gua (P)rieta, (Son)ora.
Los Apson was very popular in Mexico. They helped bring new styles of music to the country. Their music mixed with British influences to create a fresh sound.
Sports in Agua Prieta
The most popular sport in Agua Prieta is baseball. Soccer and basketball are also very popular. The city has its own professional baseball team, the Toros de Agua Prieta.
In 2012, Agua Prieta had its first ever Olympian. His name was Luis Alberto Rivera. He represented Mexico in the long jump at the Olympic Games in London, UK.
Economy and Industry
Agua Prieta is home to an important power plant called Agua Prieta II. This plant is special because it uses both solar power and gas to make electricity. It's one of the first of its kind in the world.
The plant uses large mirrors to collect sunlight. This sunlight helps create steam, which then helps make more electricity. This process also helps reduce pollution. The plant makes about 465 Megawatts of power. This electricity helps power homes and businesses in northwest Mexico.
The city also has many factories, called maquiladoras. These factories make different products. Some well-known companies with factories here include Levolor, Commercial Vehicle Group, Joyson Safety Systems, Velcro, Standex-Meder Electronics, and Alstyle Apparel & Activewear (Gildan).
Notable People from Agua Prieta
- Zarela Martinez: A famous restaurateur (someone who owns or manages a restaurant) and cookbook author in New York City.
- Los Apson: A rock band from the early 1960s. They were named after their hometown, Agua Prieta, Sonora.
See also
In Spanish: Agua Prieta para niños
