Sonoita Arizona
The town of Sonoita is located in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. It is situated at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 82 and 83. The name of the community was derived from the Papago word “Son Oidagi” which means “corn place.”
The area was the site of a “Visita,” Spanish term for church, in 1699. The visita closed sometime late since no Spanish priest ever visited the area often. Later during the 1800’s, the area around Sonoita became a ranching region. The ranchers had a tough life in the area since Indians did not want the foreign settlers on their land and ranch attacks were often.
Today, with an approximate population of 826 as of 2000 census, Sonoita has a strong economic base like cattle ranching, tourism and wineries. It also offers a few outdoor activities such as bird-watching at the Nature Conservancy’s Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve. The surrounding areas of the town are magnificent mountains and rolling grasslands.
