Sonoita Creek
Encyclopedia
Sonoita Creek is a stream
in Santa Cruz County
, Arizona
. It originates near and takes its name from the abandoned Pima
mission in the high valley near Sonoita
. It flows steadily for the first fifteen miles (24 km) of its westward course past Patagonia
, its bird sanctuary and Patagonia Lake
, but sinks beneath the sand seven to eight miles (13 km) before joining the Santa Cruz River a few miles north of Nogales
. This confluence provides water for Tumacácori
and Tubac
and collects in the marsh lands around San Xavier del Bac downstream, to the north. The Santa Rita Mountains
lie to the north and the Canelo Hills
, Red Mountain and the Patagonia Mountains
lie to the south. Harshaw Creek is a southern tributary which joins the Sonoita near Patagonia. Harshaw Creek drains the area between the Patagonia Mountains to the west and the high San Raphael valley grasslands to the east. The old mining area and ghost town
s of Harshaw
, Mowry, Washington Camp, and Duquesne lie within its watershed.
On November 17, 1856, the United States Army
established Fort Buchanan
along its banks in an effort to control the newly acquired Gadsden Purchase
.
In the 1890s several stone artifacts were discovered a few feet beneath the surface near the beginning of the river.
The New Mexico and Arizona Railroad paralleled the Sonoita Creek for a portion of the Railroad's route. The route ran from a connection with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Benson, Arizona
, then south to Fairbank (about 13 km or 8 miles west of Tombstone, Arizona
) then west to Sonoita - Patagonia and Calabassas (today known as Rio Rico, Arizona
), then south to Nogales. The railroad was constructed 1881-1882 and was abandoned in 5 phases between 1927 - 1962. Only 15.74 km (9.8 mi) of track remains in place today, from Calabassas (Rio Rico) to Nogales and is operated by the Union Pacific Railroad
.
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*73.5% White*0.4% Black*0.7% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.0% Two or more races*22.9% Other races*82.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. It originates near and takes its name from the abandoned Pima
Pima
The Pima are a group of American Indians living in an area consisting of what is now central and southern Arizona. The long name, "Akimel O'odham", means "river people". They are closely related to the Tohono O'odham and the Hia C-ed O'odham...
mission in the high valley near Sonoita
Sonoita, Arizona
Sonoita is a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 826 at the 2000 census....
. It flows steadily for the first fifteen miles (24 km) of its westward course past Patagonia
Patagonia, Arizona
Patagonia is a town in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. As of 2010 Patagonia had a population of 913. Patagonia was formerly a supply center for nearby mines and ranches. Currently, it is a tourist destination, retirement community and arts & crafts center. The Nature Conservancy's...
, its bird sanctuary and Patagonia Lake
Patagonia Lake State Park
Patagonia Lake State Park is a state park of Arizona, USA, containing Patagonia Lake. The , lake located near Patagonia, Arizona, is a popular southern Arizona site for fishing, camping, boat rental, picnicking, hiking, and birding. Located inside the park is the recently established Sonoita...
, but sinks beneath the sand seven to eight miles (13 km) before joining the Santa Cruz River a few miles north of Nogales
Nogales, Arizona
Nogales is a city in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 21,017 at the 2010 census. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 20,833. The city is the county seat of Santa Cruz County....
. This confluence provides water for Tumacácori
Tumacacori-Carmen, Arizona
In 1766, the Spanish colonists of Tumacacori discovered silver near their mission town, immediately afterward the priests had the local Opata and Tohono O'odham native Americans begin mining, thus establishing the Opata Mine. The natives dug a large shaft and in the back had a huge room where they...
and Tubac
Tubac, Arizona
Tubac is a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 949 at the 2000 census. The place name Tubac is an English borrowing from a Hispanicized form of the O'odham name, which translates into English as "rotten". The original O'odham name is written...
and collects in the marsh lands around San Xavier del Bac downstream, to the north. The Santa Rita Mountains
Santa Rita Mountains
The Santa Rita Mountains, located about 65 km southeast of Tucson, Arizona, extend 42 km from north to south, then trending southeast. They merge again southeastwards into the Patagonia Mountains, trending northwest by southeast...
lie to the north and the Canelo Hills
Canelo Hills
The Canelo Hills Cienega Reserve, is a nature preserve southeast of Sonoita, Arizona on the east side of the Canelo Hills. The area's are a mix of rare cienega wetland and Black Oak and Arizona Fescue fields. The preserve is notable for the extremely rare Canelo Ladies Tresses Orchid and the...
, Red Mountain and the Patagonia Mountains
Patagonia Mountains
The Patagonia Mountains is a 15 mile long mountain range south of the Santa Rita Mountains. Sonoita Creek flows in the valley north of the Patagonias. Both ranges are east of the Santa Cruz River Valley...
lie to the south. Harshaw Creek is a southern tributary which joins the Sonoita near Patagonia. Harshaw Creek drains the area between the Patagonia Mountains to the west and the high San Raphael valley grasslands to the east. The old mining area and ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
s of Harshaw
Harshaw, Arizona
Harshaw is a ghost town in Santa Cruz County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Arizona. The town was settled in the 1870s, in what was then the Arizona Territory. Founded as a mining community, Harshaw is named after the cattleman-turned-prospector David Tecumseh Harshaw, who first...
, Mowry, Washington Camp, and Duquesne lie within its watershed.
On November 17, 1856, the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
established Fort Buchanan
Fort Buchanan, Arizona
Fort Buchanan, was a United States Army post founded in 1856 three miles west of present day Sonoita, Arizona in what is now called Hog Canyon. The fort was located on the east slope of the canyon and under constant attack by native Americans. It was officially abandoned in 1861 but during the...
along its banks in an effort to control the newly acquired Gadsden Purchase
Gadsden Purchase
The Gadsden Purchase is a region of present-day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico that was purchased by the United States in a treaty signed by James Gadsden, the American ambassador to Mexico at the time, on December 30, 1853. It was then ratified, with changes, by the U.S...
.
In the 1890s several stone artifacts were discovered a few feet beneath the surface near the beginning of the river.
The New Mexico and Arizona Railroad paralleled the Sonoita Creek for a portion of the Railroad's route. The route ran from a connection with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Benson, Arizona
Benson, Arizona
-Transportation:Benson Airport is located 3 miles north west of the city.Benson is served by Interstate 10 to the north, which travels directly to downtown Tucson....
, then south to Fairbank (about 13 km or 8 miles west of Tombstone, Arizona
Tombstone, Arizona
Tombstone is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, founded in 1879 by Ed Schieffelin in what was then Pima County, Arizona Territory. It was one of the last wide-open frontier boomtowns in the American Old West. From about 1877 to 1890, the town's mines produced USD $40 to $85 million...
) then west to Sonoita - Patagonia and Calabassas (today known as Rio Rico, Arizona
Rio Rico, Arizona
Rio Rico is a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 18,962 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Rio Rico is located at ....
), then south to Nogales. The railroad was constructed 1881-1882 and was abandoned in 5 phases between 1927 - 1962. Only 15.74 km (9.8 mi) of track remains in place today, from Calabassas (Rio Rico) to Nogales and is operated by the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
.