Bácum
Encyclopedia
Bácum is a small city and municipality
in the south of the Mexican
state of Sonora
at 27°32′N 110°05′W. It is one of eight mission villages founded in the early seventeenth century by Spanish
colonial Jesuit missionaries for the Yaqui whom they convert
ed to Christianity
. The Yaqui developed their own syncretic form of the religion.
in the east, Guaymas
in the west and the Gulf of California
in the south. The municipality lies next to the large urban center of Ciudad Obregón
, in one of the two valleys of the Yaqui River
and the water is used for irrigation in a system of canals.
towns of the Yaqui Indians, founded in 1617 by the Jesuit missionaries Andrés Pérez de Ribas
and Tomás Basilio. They called it Santa Rosa de Bácum.
In 1930 the town was incorporated into the municipality of Cajeme, and it was granted autonomy in 1931. In 1949 the Yaqui River overflowed its banks, causing severe damage to agriculture and livestock raising. The river is now controlled by the Álvaro Obregón Dam
upriver.
by canal. The main crops are wheat, corn, soybeans, barley, cotton, and garden vegetables, as well as seasonal crops such as alfalfa and some fruits.
The coastline in the south is 12 kilometers long. Some fishing is practiced. Industries are small, and consist chiefly of packing houses for vegetables and liquid fertilizer production.
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 south of the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
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....
at 27°32′N 110°05′W. It is one of eight mission villages founded in the early seventeenth century by Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
colonial Jesuit missionaries for the Yaqui whom they convert
Convert
The convert or try, in American football known as "point after", and Canadian football "Point after touchdown", is a one-scrimmage down played immediately after a touchdown during which the scoring team is allowed to attempt to score an extra one point by kicking the ball through the uprights , or...
ed to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. The Yaqui developed their own syncretic form of the religion.
Area and population
The area of the municipality is 1,409.7 km² (544.3 mi²); and the population was 21,322 in 2005. Of these, 3,600 resided in the municipal seat. The municipality is situated at an elevation of 50 meters (160 ft) above sea level.Location
Bácum is bounded by the municipality of CajemeCajeme
Cajeme is one of the municipalities of the northwestern state of Sonora, Mexico. Its capital is Ciudad Obregón. It is named after Cajemé, a Yaqui leader...
in the east, Guaymas
Guaymas
Guaymas is a city and municipality located in the southwest part of the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. The city is located 117 km south of the state capital of Hermosillo, and 242 miles from the U.S. border, and is the principal port for the state. The municipality is located in the...
in the west and the Gulf of California
Gulf of California
The Gulf of California is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland...
in the south. The municipality lies next to the large urban center of Ciudad Obregón
Ciudad Obregón
Ciudad Obregon is the second largest city in the northern Mexican state of Sonora and is situated south of the state's northern border with the U.S. state of Arizona. It is also the municipal seat of Cajeme municipality, located in the Yaqui Valley.- History :...
, in one of the two valleys of the Yaqui River
Yaqui River
The Yaqui River is a river in the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. Being the largest river system in the state of Sonora, the Yaqui river is used for irrigation....
and the water is used for irrigation in a system of canals.
Yaqui Indians
The indigenous community is very large, with more than 9,000 residents identified as Yaqui in the 2000 census. http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_sonoraHistory
The town of Bácum is one of the eight historical missionMission
Mission may refer to:* Mission , variety of grape* Mission , base of missionary practice* Mission statement, a formal short written statement of an organization's value proposition...
towns of the Yaqui Indians, founded in 1617 by the Jesuit missionaries Andrés Pérez de Ribas
Andrés Pérez de Ribas
Andrés Pérez De Ribas was a Spanish Jesuit missionary, and historian of north-western Mexico.-Life:...
and Tomás Basilio. They called it Santa Rosa de Bácum.
In 1930 the town was incorporated into the municipality of Cajeme, and it was granted autonomy in 1931. In 1949 the Yaqui River overflowed its banks, causing severe damage to agriculture and livestock raising. The river is now controlled by the Álvaro Obregón Dam
Álvaro Obregón Dam
The Álvaro Obregón Dam is an embankment dam on the Yaqui River north of Ciudad Obregón, in Sonora, Mexico. The purpose of the dam is water supply for irrigation, flood control and hydroelectric power production...
upriver.
Economy
The main economic activity is intensive agriculture, with more than 300 square kilometers under irrigationIrrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
by canal. The main crops are wheat, corn, soybeans, barley, cotton, and garden vegetables, as well as seasonal crops such as alfalfa and some fruits.
The coastline in the south is 12 kilometers long. Some fishing is practiced. Industries are small, and consist chiefly of packing houses for vegetables and liquid fertilizer production.
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica, Geografia, e Informática
- Enciclopedia de los Municipios de Mexico
External links
- Bácum, Ayuntamiento Digital (Official Website of Bácum, Sonora)
- Gobierno de Sonora article on BácumSpanish
- Article in the Pueblos de Sonora series Spanish
- Article in the Sonora-Mexico Net series Spanish