Welcome to the Sonoita Web site! We are a community website dedicated to the wonderful area of Sonoita, AZ. We invite you to have a look around and to join us in experiencing the joys of country living.
The following excerpt, from the book “Arizona’s Names: X Marks the Place” by Will C Barnes and Byrd Granger, details the establishment and early history of Sonoita, AZ:
A traveler in 1859 said that the entire Sonoita Valley was golden with grain, one field having one hundred and fifty acres of corn, hence the name (”place where corn will grow”). It is an old one, having been known to Fr. Eusebio Kino, who in 1698 visited the Sobaipuri chief Coro at a settlement called Los Reyes or Los Reyes de Sonoydag. Coro said his people had just moved about two or three miles southwest of present-day Patagonia because of their victory over Apaches, whose vengeance they feared. A half century later during the 1750 Pima revolt ninety-one were living at what was called San Miguel of Sonoitac. In 1768 the community of Sonoita became a visita of Tubatama, Sonora. It was deserted by 1790. On May 15, 1825 Leon Henores bought a small Mexican land grant called San Jose de Sonoita, lying on both sides of Sonoita Creek. Following the Gadsen Purchase, the United States Land Court confirmed 7,592 acres of the grant. In 1856 Col. Gray called the stream running through the grant the Sonoita or Clover Creek.
Hinton also visited this region where the corn was growing as lushly as ever and noted it did as well there as in Missouri bottomlands and that the Sonoita River surfaced several times within twelve miles of Camp Crittenden. Because of increasing Apache harrassment in the period 1861-1876, the Sonoita Valley was nearly uninhabited by white men.
The present community of Sonoita came into existence in 1882 on the newly constructed railroad line. The town, established east of the old Sobaipuri rancheria, had a post office. Associated names include Sonoita Creek, Sonoita Land Grant, Sonoita River, and Sonoita Valley. PO est May 8, 1912, Clara L Hummel PM ( a notation on the postal records in the National Archives said that there was a railroad station but no village.)
Sonoita is located in Santa Cruz County in Southeastern Arizona at the crossroads of AZ Hwy 82 and AZ Hwy 83. Sonoita is situated at an elevation of 4987 ft above sea level, located in a high desert plateau between the Santa Rita, Huachuca and Whetstone Mountains.
The countryside consists of many rolling grasslands, hillsides and canyons. Across its many ranches and open areas roam the cattle, coyotes, antelope and other wildlife. Windmills dot the countryside and are a signature symbol of Sonoita. You can see some of the wonderful scenery and images of the local area in our photo gallery.
Sonoita enjoys very temperate weather. Being at a higher elevation than most well known Arizona cities (ie Tucson and Phoenix) mean warm, blue sky, sunny days and cool evenings. The average summer temperature in Sonoits is about 88 degrees. The area gets an average rainfall of about 20 inches, with that predominately coming in the summer monsoon period which runs from July - Sept. The population of the Sonoita/Elgin area is approximately 2300 persons.
Sonoita Web exists to make information about Sonoita readily available for the inquiring traveler on the information super highway. If you are interested in Sonoita or have any questions, please visit our forums and ask away. Someone in our friendly community will provide you with the answer or information that you desire.
Sonoita Web is also aimed at the local community member. One of our goals is to provide a gathering place for our local community. Do you need something? Do you need a service? Maybe you can find it in our local community pages. We also have a local event calendar of upcoming events in the Sonoita area.
From time to time, we also hope to publish articles from the local community on points of interest. We desire this to be a community site. If you would like to contribute or feel you have something to offer the community of Sonoita, please visit our contact form and let us know how you can hep.
And as always, if you have any suggestions on how we can improve the experience here at Sonoita Web, please let us know.
