Cócorit facts for kids

Cócorit is a small town in the southern part of Sonora, a state in Mexico. Its name comes from the Yaqui language, meaning "chili pepper." Cócorit is located in the Yaqui Valley, near the Yaqui River. The town is part of the Cajeme area, which is like a county. In 2005, about 7,953 people lived in Cócorit. It is the fifth-largest town in the Cajeme area.

History

Early Days and Yaqui People

Cócorit was started in 1617 by Spanish missionaries. These missionaries were from the Society of Jesus, also known as Jesuits. Their names were Andrés Pérez de Ribas and Tomás Basilio. They named the town "Espíritu Santu Cócorit."

However, the native Yaqui people lived in this area. They eventually made the Spanish settlers leave. In 1835, the town was settled again. This time, Mexico was an independent country. Cócorit was then part of a larger area called Buenavista.

Yaqui Resistance and Leaders

The Yaqui people often fought to protect their land. In 1867, the governor of Sonora tried to control the Yaquis in Cócorit. In 1875, a famous Yaqui leader named Cajemé attacked Cócorit. He even set parts of the town on fire.

The Mexican army helped to rebuild and repopulate Cócorit in 1885. People from nearby towns moved there. The Yaquis continued to fight for their rights. In 1886, the government took away many of their animals. This made the Yaquis weaker. In 1887, Cajemé was captured. He was later killed by soldiers.

New Settlers and Farming

In the early 1900s, a family from the United States called Conant helped develop farming in the Yaqui Valley. American immigrants came and built things like a fire station. After a few years, the area flooded, and people had to move to a safer place.

After World War I (around 1917), families from Germany and Yugoslavia came to the Valley. In 1918, one of these immigrants, Herman Bruss, brought the first tractor. This new machine helped farming a lot.

In 1927, Cócorit briefly became its own "municipio," which is like a self-governing district. But in 1928, the nearby town of Cajeme grew very big. It changed its name to "Ciudad Obregón" and became the main city of the area.

Tourism

Cócorit has some interesting places to visit.

La Casona Cócorit

The main attraction is La Casona Cócorit. This means "The Cócorit Mansion." It was built in the 1800s in an old Spanish style. Today, it is an art museum. You can see many paintings and handicrafts there.

Old Adobe Houses

Many old adobe houses are still standing in the town. These traditional houses are also a popular sight for visitors.

Local Celebrations

One of the biggest parties in Cócorit is the Feria de San Juan Cócorit. This means "San Juan Cócorit Fair." It happens every summer on June 24th. The "Fundación Cócorit" (The Cócorit Foundation) also holds its own fair with fun artistic shows.

See also

In Spanish: Cócorit para niños