Arizpe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arizpe
Arispe (alternate spelling)
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Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Arizpe, built ca. 1756
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 Arizpe
Location in Sonora
Arizpe
Location in Mexico
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| Country | Mexico |
| State | Sonora |
| Municipality | Arizpe |
Arizpe (sometimes spelled Arispe) is a small town in the northern part of the Mexican state of Sonora. It's the main town, or municipal seat, of the Arizpe Municipality.
Contents
History of Arizpe
Long ago, the area where Arizpe is now was home to the Opata people. The name Arizpe comes from a Basque word, "Aritzpe," which means "Under the Oaks."
Arizpe was started in 1646. It began as a mission called Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Arizpe. A Jesuit missionary named Jerónimo de la Canal founded it.
A New Capital
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In 1776 and 1777, Arizpe became a city. It was made the capital of a large Spanish colonial territory. This territory was called the Provincias Internas, or "Internal Provinces."
The Internal Provinces were a huge area. They included parts of what are now:
- Sonora and Sinaloa in Mexico
- Durango and Chihuahua in Mexico
- The Baja California Peninsula and California in the USA
- New Mexico in the USA
- Texas in the USA
- Nuevo Leon in Mexico
- Tamaulipas in Mexico and southern Texas
- Coahuila in Mexico and Texas south of the Nueces River
The first leader of this big territory was Teodoro de Croix.
A Famous Explorer
In 1775, a Spanish explorer named Captain Juan Bautista de Anza led an important journey. He led soldiers, missionaries, and settlers overland to Spanish Alta California. The King of Spain approved this trip to find a better land route and help settle the area.
De Anza's group reached San Francisco Bay in 1776. There, he picked spots for the Presidio of San Francisco (a fort) and Mission San Francisco de Asis. These places are now in San Francisco, California.
Juan Bautista de Anza passed away in 1788. He was buried in Arizpe, at the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Arizpe. In 1963, his remains were moved and reburied in a new marble memorial at the same church. This event included people from American universities.
What People Do There
The main way people make a living in Arizpe is through farming. Farms are located in the valley of the Sonora River. Most of the crops grown are different types of grass. This grass is used to feed cattle. In 2000, there were more than 40,000 cattle in the area.
Places to Visit
The main town of Arizpe has a church and pretty gardens with palm trees. The most important church, Templo de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, was built around 1756. Inside, you can see beautiful altarpieces called retablos with oil paintings of saints. There are also sculptures made of wood and plaster.
See also
In Spanish: Arizpe para niños
