Moctezuma, Sonora
Encyclopedia
Moctezuma is a municipio (municipality) of the Mexican state of Sonora
, located in the state's central region. It is also the name of its largest settlement and cabecera municipal (municipal seat).
in the north, Huásabas
, Granados
and Divisaderos
in the east, Tepache
, San Pedro de la Cueva
Villa Pesqueira
, and Baviácora
in the west.
from Hermosillo
passing through Ures
, and Mazocahui. From Agua Prieta
on Federal Highway 17
the distance is 204 km passing through Fronteras
, Esqueda, and Nacozari. See maps at http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/mapa-de-sonora.htm or http://www.maps-of-mexico.com/sonora-state-mexico/sonora-state-mexico-map-d1.shtml.
San Miguel Arcángel de Oposura, a large burnt brick
church with vaulted ceiling, side bays, and an octagonal chapel with a wooden roof, was built by unidentified maestros brought to the site at great expense by Father Daniel Janusque sometime before his death in 1724. It continued under two of his successors until it was finished in February 1738.
The town was renamed Moctezuma in 1828, while before the name had been San Miguel Arcángel de Oposura, and later “Oposura”. Etymologically , Oposura means place of a lot of ironwood
.
mountains. The climate is dry with an average annual temperature of 12.2°C. http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/sonora/municipios/26038a.htm
Corn and beans are raised for subsistence while grasses (sorghum
, alfalfa
, ryegrass
) are grown for cattle fodder.
The cattle herd numbered 32,554 head in 2000 http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/moctezuma-sonora.htm making cattle raising the main economic activity in the municipality.
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....
, located in the state's central region. It is also the name of its largest settlement and cabecera municipal (municipal seat).
Area and Population
The municipal area is 1,763.39 km2, with a population of 4,187 registered in 2000. http://www.inegi.gob.mx/inegi/default.aspx The municipal seat had a population of 3,798 in 2000. It is located at an elevation of 677 meters.Neighboring Municipalities
Neighboring municipalities are CumpasCumpas
Cumpas is both a municipality and the municipal seat of the same in the east of the Mexican state of Sonora.-Area and Population:The area of the municipality is 2,013.50 km2., which represents 1.09% of the state total and 0.10 % of the national total. The most important settlements, besides...
in the north, Huásabas
Huásabas
Huásabas is a municipality and its municipal seat in the northeast of the Mexican state of Sonora. The municipal area is 711.17 km² with a population of 966 registered in 2000. Most of the inhabitants live in the municipal seat....
, Granados
Granados, Sonora
Granados is a municipality and its municipal seat in the northeast of the Mexican state of Sonora. The municipal area is 361.27 km2. and the population was 1,235 in 2000 Granados is a municipality and its municipal seat in the northeast of the Mexican state of Sonora. The municipal area is...
and Divisaderos
Divisaderos
Divisaderos is both a municipality and its municipal seat in the east of the Mexican state of Sonora. It is located at , about 20 mi/30 km SE of Moctezuma. Access is by unpaved road to Moctezuma and Sahuaripa. The area of the municipality is 617.69 km2. and the population was 681...
in the east, Tepache
Tepache, Sonora
Tepache is a small town and municipality in the east of the Mexican state of Sonora.-Area and population:The municipal area is 752.85 km². The municipal population counted in 2000 was 1,539, of which 779 were male and 760 were female. The population of the main settlement and municipal seat...
, San Pedro de la Cueva
San Pedro de la Cueva
San Pedro de la Cueva is a town, and the surrounding municipality of the same name, in the Mexican state of Sonora. It is located in the center of the state at an elevation of 500 meters. The municipal area is 1,926.36 km2...
Villa Pesqueira
Villa Pesqueira
Villa Pesqueira is a town, and the surrounding municipality of the same name, in the central region of the Mexican state of Sonora.It was founded in 1629 by the missionary Martín de Azpilcueta as Mátapa...
, and Baviácora
Baviácora
Baviácora is a small town and the municipal seat of the surrounding municipality of the Mexican state of Sonora. The geographical coordinates are .-Location and Boundaries:...
in the west.
Road Connections
Moctezuma is 140 kilometers on Federal Highway 14Mexican Federal Highway 14
Mexican Federal Highway 14 is a Federal Highway of Mexico. The highway connects the state of Sonora with Michoacán....
from Hermosillo
Hermosillo
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...
passing through Ures
Ures
Ures is a small city and a municipality in the Mexican state of Sonora.-Area:It has an area of 2,618.56 square kilometers. This is 1.41% of the total area of the state, and 0.13 percent of the national area of Mexico...
, and Mazocahui. From Agua Prieta
Agua Prieta
Agua Prieta is a pueblo and municipality in the northeastern corner of the Mexican state of Sonora . It stands on the U.S.–Mexico border, adjacent to the town of Douglas, Arizona, USA. The municipality covers an area of 3,631.65 km²...
on Federal Highway 17
Mexican Federal Highway 17
Mexican Federal Highway 17 is a Federal Highway of Mexico. The highway travels from the Mexico – United States border at Agua Prieta, Sonora south to Moctezuma. The northern terminus of the highway continues north into the United States at Douglas, Arizona as U.S. Route 191. The total length of...
the distance is 204 km passing through Fronteras
Fronteras
Fronteras is the seat of Fronteras Municipality in the northeast of the Mexican state of Sonora. The elevation is 1,120 meters and neighboring municipalities are Agua Prieta, Nacozari and Bacoachi. The area is 2839.62 km², which represents 1.53% of the state total.-Geography:Fronteras is located...
, Esqueda, and Nacozari. See maps at http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/mapa-de-sonora.htm or http://www.maps-of-mexico.com/sonora-state-mexico/sonora-state-mexico-map-d1.shtml.
History
When the Spanish arrived the land was occupied by the Opata Indians. The settlement is believed to have been established by the Jesuit missionary Marcos del Río.San Miguel Arcángel de Oposura, a large burnt brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
church with vaulted ceiling, side bays, and an octagonal chapel with a wooden roof, was built by unidentified maestros brought to the site at great expense by Father Daniel Janusque sometime before his death in 1724. It continued under two of his successors until it was finished in February 1738.
The town was renamed Moctezuma in 1828, while before the name had been San Miguel Arcángel de Oposura, and later “Oposura”. Etymologically , Oposura means place of a lot of ironwood
Ironwood
Ironwood is a common name for a large number of woods that have a reputation for hardness. Usage of the name may include the tree that yields this wood...
.
Geography
The region is located in the river basin of the Río Moctezuma between two extensions of the Sierra Madre OccidentalSierra Madre Occidental
The Sierra Madre Occidental is a mountain range in western Mexico.-Setting:The range runs north to south, from just south of the Sonora–Arizona border southeast through eastern Sonora, western Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Zacatecas, Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguascalientes to Guanajuato, where it joins...
mountains. The climate is dry with an average annual temperature of 12.2°C. http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/sonora/municipios/26038a.htm
Economic activity
Agriculture and cattle raising are the main economic activities.Corn and beans are raised for subsistence while grasses (sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
, alfalfa
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
, ryegrass
Ryegrass
Ryegrass is a genus of nine species of tufted grasses in the Pooideae subfamily of the Poaceae family. Also called tares , these plants are native to Europe, Asia and northern Africa, but are...
) are grown for cattle fodder.
The cattle herd numbered 32,554 head in 2000 http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/moctezuma-sonora.htm making cattle raising the main economic activity in the municipality.