Sonoyta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sonoyta
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Town
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Border crossing between Sonoyta and Lukeville, Arizona
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 Sonoyta
Location in Mexico
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| Country |  Mexico |
| State | Sonora |
| Municipality | Plutarco Elías Calles |
| Founded | 1693 (San Marcelo de Sonoyta) |
| Elevation | 400 m (1,300 ft) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 12,849 |
| • Demonym | Sonoitense |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Pacific (US Mountain)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (No DST) |
| Postal code |
83570
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| Area code(s) | 651 |
| Website | www.sonora.gob.mx/portal/ |
Sonoyta is a town in the northern Mexican state of Sonora. It is located right on the U.S.-Mexico border, across from Lukeville, Arizona, in the United States. Sonoyta is also the main town of the Plutarco Elías Calles municipality.
Contents
People Living in Sonoyta
In 2010, the town of Sonoyta had 12,849 people living there. The larger area around the town, called the municipality, had 15,652 people. There were slightly more males (6,613) than females (6,236) in the town. Most people in Sonoyta, about 96.1%, are Roman Catholic. About 3% are Evangelicals, and a small number (0.9%) follow other religions.
Sonoyta's Past: A Look at History
Early Inhabitants and Founding
The first people to live in this area were the Tohono O'odham tribe. They lived in places like Pinacate, Quitovac, and Sonoyta. When Jesuit missionaries arrived, the way of life for the Tohono O'odham began to change. People started forming communities, often near lakes and rivers.
There was a special place called Loma Alta where water came out of the ground. The local people called this spot Ṣon Oidag, which means "base of the water" in the O'odham language. In 1693, a missionary named Father Kino founded a community here. He named it Nuestra Senora de Loreto y San Marcelo de Sonoyta.
Changes Over Time
In 1836, valuable mines were found nearby. For many years in the 1800s, Sonoyta was part of the Altar District. After the Mexican Revolution, it became part of the Caborca, Sonora municipality in 1952. Later, it joined the Puerto Peñasco, Sonora municipality.
Then, in August 1989, a new municipality was created just for Sonoyta and its surrounding areas. This new area was named General Plutarco Elías Calles. This change was made to meet the social, political, and historical needs of the community.
For a long time, the border crossing in Sonoyta was very busy with goods coming in and out of Mexico. However, after some changes to Mexico's customs laws, this trade slowed down. Because of this, many people moved to other cities between the late 1980s and mid-1990s.
Learning and Schools
The municipality of Sonoyta has many schools for different age groups:
- 10 preschools
- 15 elementary schools
- 5 junior high and high schools
- 2 professional schools for specific trades
- 1 accredited college
Getting Around: Transportation
Sonoyta is an important place for travel because major roads meet here.
- Federal Highway 2 runs right through Sonoyta. This highway goes along the international border.
- Federal Highway 8 also crosses the city. This highway connects Sonoyta to Puerto Peñasco, Sonora.
- You can cross into the United States from Sonoyta at the Lukeville Port of Entry.
Sonoyta Today
Sonoyta is well known as a place where people cross the border into the United States. Many travelers use the town to get ready for their journey, especially if they plan to travel through the Sonoran Desert.
The town is also a popular crossing point for American tourists. Many visitors travel through Sonoyta on their way to Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, or other cities in Northern Mexico. Puerto Peñasco is a popular beach resort city, located about 100 km (62 mi) southwest of Sonoyta on Highway 8.
Sonoyta has many modern features and a downtown area with lots of small shops and markets. You can find services from major companies like Pemex. There are also major airports within a five-hour drive or less in cities like Mexicali, Baja California; Hermosillo, Sonora; Yuma, Arizona; Phoenix, Arizona; and Tucson, Arizona. Since 2008, the Puerto Peñasco International Airport also serves people living in Sonoyta with flights to other parts of Mexico.
The border crossing between Sonoyta and Lukeville, Arizona, is open every day from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM MST.
See also
In Spanish: Sonoyta para niños
