Banámichi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Banámichi
Bacoachi or vanamitzi
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Town
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 Banámichi
Location in Sonora
Banámichi
Location in Mexico
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| Country | Mexico |
| State | Sonora |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Zona Pacífico) |
Banámichi is a small, charming town in the northern part of Sonora, a state in Mexico. Its name comes from the Opata word Banamitzi, which means "Where the water turns." It's also the main town for the area around it, called the Banámichi Municipality. This town is known for its beautiful natural surroundings and a mix of old traditions and modern life.
Contents
How Many People Live Here?
The Banámichi Municipality covers about 773 square kilometers (that's about 298 square miles). In 2005, around 1,464 people lived in the whole municipality. Most of them, about 1,096 people, lived right in the town of Banámichi itself. This means there were about 2 people living in each square kilometer.
For a while, the number of people living here was getting smaller. Many people moved away, often to the United States, looking for more job opportunities. But recently, some people have started coming back! This happened after a big money problem in the U.S. around 2007-2010, which made some former residents decide to return home.
Exploring Banámichi's Nature
Banámichi is located about 217 kilometers (135 miles) south of Bisbee, Arizona, in the U.S. The town sits on the east side of the Sonora River, which is very important to the region. Much of the land away from the river is mountainous and not very good for farming. However, the land right along the river is much better. Here, farmers grow things like alfalfa, fruit trees, and other small crops.
Wildlife in the Area
Higher up in the mountains, you can still find pine and oak trees. Some logging, which is cutting down trees for wood, still happens here. The area is also home to amazing wildlife! You might see animals like mule deer, bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, bobcats, and opossums. Birds like mourning doves, wild turkeys, and quail are also common. People have even reported seeing mountain lions and jaguars in the higher parts of the mountains!
Getting Around and Staying Connected
A state highway, called Son 089, connects Banámichi to other important places. You can travel south to Hermosillo, which is the state capital. Or you can go north to the cities of Arizpe and Cananea. There's also a small airstrip for planes, but it's not fully developed yet.
For communication, Banámichi has modern services. You can get phone service and high-speed internet through Telmex. There's also cell phone service available from Telcel.
What Do People Do for Work?
The main ways people earn a living in Banámichi are through farming and raising cattle. A few people also work in tourism. More than half of the town's population works in these areas.
Farming and Ranching
Some farmers grow corn and beans just for their own families to eat. But most of the farming is for growing grasses that feed the cattle. In the year 2000, there were over 10,000 cattle in the area!
Local Businesses and Industry
There aren't many big factories here, but there are some small local businesses. One interesting place is a modest plant that puts together fish hooks for people who fish in North America. There's also an old gold and silver mine called Santa Elena that has reopened. It now employs about 300 people, which is a big boost for the town.
A small industry has also grown around making furniture from mesquite wood. Two carpentry shops create beautiful rustic chairs, tables, beds, and other pieces.
Fun Things to See and Do!
Banámichi has some great places to visit and fun activities.
Historic Plaza and Buildings
The recently rebuilt Plaza Hidalgo is a very attractive spot. It has a lovely gazebo or bandstand in the center. Facing the plaza is the main church, called Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Loreto. This church was started way back in the 1600s and still has its original structure, with some additions from the 1940s. The Palacio Municipal, which is the city hall, also faces the plaza.
Parks and Ancient Art
The city park, located on the main highway, has something very special: the Piedra Histórica. This is an ancient petroglyph, which is a carving made on a rock. It's held up by statues of four strong Opata warriors. Experts believe this petroglyph might be an old map showing how people used to irrigate their fields. Just south of town, you can find the Bacachi warm springs pools, which are perfect for relaxing.
Sports and Entertainment
Banámichi has a baseball stadium where the home team, the Halcones (Hawks), play in the local league. Their games are even sometimes shown on TV! If you like horse racing, there's a track near the airport where quarter horse races take place.
Places to Stay
If you visit Banámichi, there are several nice places to stay. La Posada del Río Sonora is a historic inn right on Plaza Hidalgo. It has a restaurant, cafe, and cantina. The main part of the hotel used to be a colonial adobe house from the 1600s! La Posada also has a large rooftop terrace with what many say is the best sunset view in town.
Other hotels include Hotel Los Arcos de Sonora, which opened in 2009. It combines a restored hundred-year-old adobe building with modern construction. Los Arcos has a restaurant and is special because it's the only hotel in the area with a swimming pool. There are also Los Dos Potrillos and two smaller guest houses, Guest House Guely and Casa Rural León. Some cattle ranches in the area also act as hunting lodges for organized hunting trips.
A Look at Banámichi's Past
The name Banámichi comes from the Opata word Banamitzi. It means "Where the water turns" or "lowered by water." The Opata people lived in this region a long time ago. In 1639, a Spanish missionary named Bartolomé Castaños from the Jesuits founded the settlement. He named it Nuestra Señora de los Remedios de Banámichi.
Later, in 1930, Banámichi became part of the municipality of Arizpe. But it gained its independence in 1931, and Banámichi became the main town for its own municipality.
See also
In Spanish: Banámichi para niños
