Banámichi
Encyclopedia
Banámichi is both a small town and a municipality
in the north of the Mexican state of Sonora
. Geographical coordinates are 30°01′N 110°13′W.
. There is anecdotal evidence that this emigration has been reversed with many former residents returning to the area as a result of the Financial crisis of 2007-2010 in the US.
by road. The town lies on the east side of the Sonora River
which defines the region. Much of the land above the river is mountainous and soils are poor. Land along the river bottom is generally more productive, producing alfalfa, fruit trees and small cash crops. There are still pine and oak trees in higher elevations, and some logging is carried out. The area still has wild life such as the mule deer, big horn sheep, white tailed deer, bobcats, possums, mourning dove, wild turkey, and quail.
. There is no hospital and the population is served by a public health clinic.
to the south and the cities of Arizpe
and Cananea
to the north. There is an airfield for small planes. Telecommunication services available are Telmex
voice services, high speed ADSL internet and Telcel
cellular services.
Industry is limited to a handful of micro industries and a modest plant assembling fish hooks for the North American market. The long abandoned Santa Elena gold and silver mine, has been reopened and is currently being developed on the southern end of the town. Construction employment fluctuates to up to 135 workers. Once in operation, (expected date of Fall 2010) the mine is expected to employ up to 85 workers.
Hidalgo Plaza is very attractive with a gazebo/bandstand in the center. Facing the plaza is the main church, Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Loreto, which was begun in the 17th century and retains it original structure with additions from the 1940s. The Palacio Municipal, or city hall also faces the plaza. The city park on the main highway contains the Piedra Historica, an ancient petroglyph, being held aloft by statues of four imposing Opata warriors. Scholars believe the petroglyph represents an irrigation map. Just south of the town is the Bacachi warm springs pools. The town has a baseball stadium where municipal teams play and games are often televised. Quarter horse racing takes place at a track near the airport. Several of the cattle ranches in the area also serve as hunting lodges for organized hunting trips, typically run by professional hunting outfitters. There is one Historic Inn with a full restaurant, cafe and cantina named "La Posada del Rio Sonora" located right on the main square. The main part of the hotel is remodeled from a colonial adobe house from the 17th century. There are a few new hotels in the town and two smaller guest houses. See La Posada del Rio Sonora , BanamichiMexico.com for a listing of hotels and restaurants and other tourist services in Banámichi.
word Banamitzi, which means, "Where the water turns" or "lowered by water". The region was once inhabited by the Opata people; in 1639 the Spanish missionary Bartolomé Castaños S.J.
founded the settlement of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios de Banámichi. In 1930 it became part of the municipality of Arizpe
and got its autonomy in 1931, with Banámichi as its municipal seat.
Municipalities of Mexico
Municipalities are the second-level administrative division in Mexico . There are 2,438 municipalities in Mexico, making the average municipality population 45,616...
in the north of the Mexican state of Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
. Geographical coordinates are 30°01′N 110°13′W.
Area and Population
The municipal area is 773.06 and the population was 1,464 in 2005, with 82% or 1,096 inhabitants residing in the town itself. http://www.inegi.gob.mx/inegi/default.aspx/. (Two other smaller pueblos are part of the municipality; La Mora and Las Delicias.) There were 1.96 inhabitants per square kilometer in the municipality, which has been losing population since the census of 1995. The lack of economic opportunity has caused many people to emigrate, especially to the United States of AmericaUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. There is anecdotal evidence that this emigration has been reversed with many former residents returning to the area as a result of the Financial crisis of 2007-2010 in the US.
Geography
Banámichi is approximately 135 miles (217 km) south of Bisbee, ArizonaBisbee, Arizona
Bisbee is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, 82 miles southeast of Tucson. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 6,177...
by road. The town lies on the east side of the Sonora River
Sonora River
Río Sonora is a 402-kilometer-long river of Mexico. It lies on the Pacific slope of the Mexican state of Sonora and it runs into the Gulf of California.-Watershed:...
which defines the region. Much of the land above the river is mountainous and soils are poor. Land along the river bottom is generally more productive, producing alfalfa, fruit trees and small cash crops. There are still pine and oak trees in higher elevations, and some logging is carried out. The area still has wild life such as the mule deer, big horn sheep, white tailed deer, bobcats, possums, mourning dove, wild turkey, and quail.
Education and Health Care
Banámichi has the only middle-level school in the region, serving an area from the municipalities of Mazocahui to ArizpeArizpe
Arizpe is a small town in Arizpe Municipality in the north of the Mexican state of Sonora. It is located at 30°20'"N 110°09'"W. The area of the municipality is 2,806.78 sq.km. The population in 2005 was 2,959 of which 1,743 lived in the municipal seat as of the 2000 census.-History and origin...
. There is no hospital and the population is served by a public health clinic.
Communications
A state highway (paved) links the municipality with the state capital, HermosilloHermosillo
Hermosillo is a city and municipality located centrally in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. It is the capital and main economic center for the state and region. It contains almost all of the state's manufacturing and has thirty percent of its population...
to the south and the cities of Arizpe
Arizpe
Arizpe is a small town in Arizpe Municipality in the north of the Mexican state of Sonora. It is located at 30°20'"N 110°09'"W. The area of the municipality is 2,806.78 sq.km. The population in 2005 was 2,959 of which 1,743 lived in the municipal seat as of the 2000 census.-History and origin...
and Cananea
Cananea
-Economy:Mining is the main source of revenue for Cananea and will be for the foreseeable future. Eighty percent of the population is directly or indirectly supported by mining companies in Cananea. The first and most important mining company is Mexicana de Cananea, S.A. de C.V. owned by and...
to the north. There is an airfield for small planes. Telecommunication services available are Telmex
Telmex
Telmex is a telecommunications company headquartered in Mexico City that provides telecommunication products and services in Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil and other countries in Latin America. In addition to traditional fixed-line telephone service, Telmex also offers Internet access, data,...
voice services, high speed ADSL internet and Telcel
Telcel
Telcel is Mexico's largest mobile phone carrier, owned by América Móvil. Founded in 1989 and based in Mexico City, Telcel is the leading provider of wireless communications services in Mexico. As of December 31, 2006, Telcel's cellular network covered more than 63% of the geographical area of...
cellular services.
Economic activity
The main economic activities are agriculture and cattle raising with limited tourist activity. More than half the population works in these areas http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_sonora. Subsistence farming is carried out to produce corn and beans while most of the farming is of grasses for cattle feed. The cattle herd had over 10,000 head in 2000. http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_sonora.Industry is limited to a handful of micro industries and a modest plant assembling fish hooks for the North American market. The long abandoned Santa Elena gold and silver mine, has been reopened and is currently being developed on the southern end of the town. Construction employment fluctuates to up to 135 workers. Once in operation, (expected date of Fall 2010) the mine is expected to employ up to 85 workers.
Tourist attractions
The Miguel HidalgoMiguel Hidalgo
Miguel Gregorio Antonio Ignacio Hidalgo y Costilla y Gallaga Mandarte Villaseñor , more commonly known as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla or simply Miguel Hidalgo, was a Mexican priest and a leader of the Mexican War of Independence.In 1810 Hidalgo led a group of peasants in a revolt against the dominant...
Hidalgo Plaza is very attractive with a gazebo/bandstand in the center. Facing the plaza is the main church, Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Loreto, which was begun in the 17th century and retains it original structure with additions from the 1940s. The Palacio Municipal, or city hall also faces the plaza. The city park on the main highway contains the Piedra Historica, an ancient petroglyph, being held aloft by statues of four imposing Opata warriors. Scholars believe the petroglyph represents an irrigation map. Just south of the town is the Bacachi warm springs pools. The town has a baseball stadium where municipal teams play and games are often televised. Quarter horse racing takes place at a track near the airport. Several of the cattle ranches in the area also serve as hunting lodges for organized hunting trips, typically run by professional hunting outfitters. There is one Historic Inn with a full restaurant, cafe and cantina named "La Posada del Rio Sonora" located right on the main square. The main part of the hotel is remodeled from a colonial adobe house from the 17th century. There are a few new hotels in the town and two smaller guest houses. See La Posada del Rio Sonora , BanamichiMexico.com for a listing of hotels and restaurants and other tourist services in Banámichi.
Origin of the Name and History
The name is derived from the OpataOpata language
Ópata is the name of the Uto-Aztecan language spoken by the Opata people of northern central Sonora in Mexico...
word Banamitzi, which means, "Where the water turns" or "lowered by water". The region was once inhabited by the Opata people; in 1639 the Spanish missionary Bartolomé Castaños S.J.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
founded the settlement of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios de Banámichi. In 1930 it became part of the municipality of Arizpe
Arizpe
Arizpe is a small town in Arizpe Municipality in the north of the Mexican state of Sonora. It is located at 30°20'"N 110°09'"W. The area of the municipality is 2,806.78 sq.km. The population in 2005 was 2,959 of which 1,743 lived in the municipal seat as of the 2000 census.-History and origin...
and got its autonomy in 1931, with Banámichi as its municipal seat.
Sources
External links
- Banámichi, Ayuntamiento Digital (Official Website of Banámichi, Sonora)