Map of Mexico with Sonora highlighted
Sonora is a state in Northwestern Mexico that is divided into 72 municipalities . According to the 2020 Mexican census , it is the eighteenth most populated state with 2,944,840 inhabitants and the 2nd largest by land area spanning 179,354.7 square kilometres (69,249.2 sq mi).[ 1] [ 2] The largest municipality by population is Hermosillo , with 936,263 residents (31.79% of the state's total), while the smallest is Onavas with 365 residents.[ 1] The largest municipality by land area is also Hermosillo which spans 15,724.30 km2 (6,071.19 sq mi), and the smallest is San Felipe de Jesús with 151.30 km2 (58.42 sq mi).[ 2] The newest municipalities are Benito Juárez and San Ignacio Río Muerto , established in 1996.[ 3]
Municipalities in Sonora are administratively autonomous of the state according to the 115th article of the 1917 Constitution of Mexico .[ 4] Every three years, citizens elect a municipal president (Spanish: presidente municipal ) by a plurality voting system who heads a concurrently elected municipal council (ayuntamiento ) responsible for providing all the public services for their constituents. The municipal council consists of a variable number of trustees and councillors (regidores y síndicos ).[ 5] Municipalities are responsible for public services (such as water and sewerage), street lighting, public safety, traffic, and the maintenance of public parks, gardens and cemeteries.[ 6] They may also assist the state and federal governments in education, emergency fire and medical services, environmental protection and maintenance of monuments and historical landmarks. Since 1984, they have had the power to collect property taxes and user fees , although more funds are obtained from the state and federal governments than from their own income.[ 6]
Municipalities
Largest municipalities in Sonora by population
Hermosillo , capital and largest municipality by population in Sonora.
Cajeme , second largest municipality by population.
Nogales , third largest municipality by population.
† State capital
Municipalities of Sonora
Name
Municipal seat
Population (2020)[ 1]
Population (2010)[ 7]
Change
Land area[ 2]
Population density (2020)
Incorporation date[ 3]
km2
sq mi
Aconchi [ a]
Aconchi
2,563
2,637
−2.8%
368.2
142.2
7.0/km2 (18.0/sq mi)
December 26, 1829
Agua Prieta
Agua Prieta
91,929
79,138
+16.2%
3,946.5
1,523.8
23.3/km2 (60.3/sq mi)
August 28, 1916
Álamos
Álamos
24,976
25,848
−3.4%
6,422.8
2,479.9
3.9/km2 (10.1/sq mi)
January 19, 1825
Altar [ b]
Altar
9,492
9,049
+4.9%
4,457.7
1,721.1
2.1/km2 (5.5/sq mi)
November 2, 1825
Arivechi
Arivechi
1,177
1,253
−6.1%
726.3
280.4
1.6/km2 (4.2/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Arizpe
Arizpe
2,788
3,037
−8.2%
3,072.0
1,186.1
0.9/km2 (2.4/sq mi)
November 2, 1825
Atil
Atil
626
625
+0.2%
300.4
116.0
2.1/km2 (5.4/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Bacadéhuachi [ c]
Bacadéhuachi
979
1,252
−21.8%
1,066.0
411.6
0.9/km2 (2.4/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Bacanora [ d]
Bacanora
759
784
−3.2%
1,128.9
435.9
0.7/km2 (1.7/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Bacerac
Bacerac
1,221
1,467
−16.8%
1,344.6
519.2
0.9/km2 (2.4/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Bacoachi
Bacoachi
1,475
1,646
−10.4%
1,231.0
475.3
1.2/km2 (3.1/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Bácum [ e]
Bácum
23,151
22,821
+1.4%
1,583.3
611.3
14.6/km2 (37.9/sq mi)
August 31, 1911
Banámichi [ f]
Banámichi
1,825
1,646
+10.9%
808.1
312.0
2.3/km2 (5.8/sq mi)
December 26, 1829
Baviácora [ g]
Baviácora
3,191
3,560
−10.4%
842.5
325.3
3.8/km2 (9.8/sq mi)
December 26, 1829
Bavispe [ h]
Bavispe
1,169
1,454
−19.6%
1,721.7
664.8
0.7/km2 (1.8/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Benito Juárez
Villa Juárez
21,692
22,009
−1.4%
369.5
142.7
58.7/km2 (152.0/sq mi)
December 26, 1996
Benjamín Hill
Benjamín Hill
4,988
5,275
−5.4%
1,412.2
545.3
3.5/km2 (9.1/sq mi)
April 19, 1952
Caborca
Caborca
89,122
81,309
+9.6%
10,671.7
4,120.4
8.4/km2 (21.6/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Cajeme
Ciudad Obregón
436,484
409,310
+6.6%
4,876.3
1,882.7
89.5/km2 (231.8/sq mi)
November 30, 1927
Cananea
Cananea
39,451
32,936
+19.8%
2,316.2
894.3
17.0/km2 (44.1/sq mi)
November 1, 1907
Carbó [ i]
Carbó
4,946
5,347
−7.5%
2,581.8
996.8
1.9/km2 (5.0/sq mi)
July 3, 1943
Cucurpe [ j]
Cucurpe
863
958
−9.9%
1,577.9
609.2
0.5/km2 (1.4/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Cumpas
Cumpas
5,829
6,362
−8.4%
2,010.0
776.1
2.9/km2 (7.5/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Divisaderos
Divisaderos
753
813
−7.4%
385.7
148.9
2.0/km2 (5.1/sq mi)
April 23, 1932
Empalme [ k]
Empalme
51,431
54,131
−5.0%
593.2
229.0
86.7/km2 (224.6/sq mi)
May 8, 1937
Etchojoa
Etchojoa
61,309
60,717
+1.0%
948.6
366.3
64.6/km2 (167.4/sq mi)
October 15, 1909
Fronteras [ l]
Fronteras
9,041
8,639
+4.7%
2,616.4
1,010.2
3.5/km2 (8.9/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Granados [ m]
Granados
1,009
1,150
−12.3%
363.9
140.5
2.8/km2 (7.2/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Guaymas [ n]
Guaymas
156,863
149,299
+5.1%
7,945.6
3,067.8
19.7/km2 (51.1/sq mi)
February 28, 1845
Hermosillo [ o]
Hermosillo †
936,263
784,342
+19.4%
15,724.3
6,071.2
59.5/km2 (154.2/sq mi)
February 28, 1845
Huachinera [ p]
Huachinera
1,186
1,350
−12.1%
1,197.6
462.4
1.0/km2 (2.6/sq mi)
December 15, 1921
Huásabas [ q]
Huásabas
888
962
−7.7%
821.7
317.3
1.1/km2 (2.8/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Huatabampo
Huatabampo
77,682
79,313
−2.1%
1,905.5
735.7
40.8/km2 (105.6/sq mi)
December 12, 1898
Huépac [ r]
Huépac
943
1,154
−18.3%
420.8
162.5
2.2/km2 (5.8/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Imuris [ s]
Imuris
12,536
12,316
+1.8%
2,170.0
837.8
5.8/km2 (15.0/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
La Colorada [ t]
La Colorada
1,848
1,663
+11.1%
4,122.1
1,591.6
0.4/km2 (1.2/sq mi)
June 26, 1889
Magdalena
Magdalena de Kino
33,049
29,707
+11.2%
1,239.4
478.5
26.7/km2 (69.1/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Mazatán [ u]
Mazatán
1,101
1,350
−18.4%
683.0
263.7
1.6/km2 (4.2/sq mi)
December 16, 1907
Moctezuma [ v]
Moctezuma
5,173
4,680
+10.5%
1,877.5
724.9
2.8/km2 (7.1/sq mi)
November 2, 1825
Naco
Naco
5,774
6,401
−9.8%
1,238.4
478.1
4.7/km2 (12.1/sq mi)
June 30, 1937
Nácori Chico [ w]
Nácori Chico
1,531
2,051
−25.4%
2,832.7
1,093.7
0.5/km2 (1.4/sq mi)
February 21, 1917
Nacozari
Nacozari de García
14,369
12,751
+12.7%
1,735.8
670.2
8.3/km2 (21.4/sq mi)
October 15, 1912
Navojoa
Navojoa
164,387
157,729
+4.2%
2,808.7
1,084.4
58.5/km2 (151.6/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Nogales
Nogales
264,782
220,292
+20.2%
1,756.6
678.2
150.7/km2 (390.4/sq mi)
July 11, 1884
Onavas [ x]
Onavas
365
399
−8.5%
534.2
206.3
0.7/km2 (1.8/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Opodepe [ y]
Opodepe
2,438
2,878
−15.3%
2,224.3
858.8
1.1/km2 (2.8/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Oquitoa [ z]
Oquitoa
496
443
+12.0%
916.4
353.8
0.5/km2 (1.4/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Pitiquito
Pitiquito
9,122
9,468
−3.7%
9,820.0
3,791.5
0.9/km2 (2.4/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Puerto Peñasco
Puerto Peñasco
62,689
57,342
+9.3%
6,193.3
2,391.2
10.1/km2 (26.2/sq mi)
July 7, 1952
Plutarco Elías Calles
Sonoyta
13,627
15,625
−12.8%
3,656.7
1,411.9
3.7/km2 (9.7/sq mi)
August 21, 1989
Quiriego [ aa]
Quiriego
3,090
3,356
−7.9%
3,780.6
1,459.7
0.8/km2 (2.1/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Rayón [ ab]
Rayón
1,496
1,599
−6.4%
879.1
339.4
1.7/km2 (4.4/sq mi)
February 17, 1828
Rosario
Rosario de Tesopaco
4,830
5,226
−7.6%
3,519.8
1,359.0
1.4/km2 (3.6/sq mi)
November 2, 1825
Sahuaripa [ ac]
Sahuaripa
5,257
6,020
−12.7%
5,003.8
1,932.0
1.1/km2 (2.7/sq mi)
November 2, 1825
San Felipe de Jesús [ ad]
San Felipe de Jesús
369
396
−6.8%
151.3
58.4
2.4/km2 (6.3/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
San Ignacio Río Muerto
San Ignacio Río Muerto
14,279
14,136
+1.0%
1,383.6
534.2
10.3/km2 (26.7/sq mi)
December 26, 1996
San Javier [ ae]
San Javier
537
492
+9.1%
535.9
206.9
1.0/km2 (2.6/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
San Luis Río Colorado
San Luis Río Colorado
199,021
178,380
+11.6%
8,860.0
3,420.9
22.5/km2 (58.2/sq mi)
July 1, 1939
San Miguel de Horcasitas [ af]
San Miguel de Horcasitas
10,729
8,382
+28.0%
1,115.6
430.7
9.6/km2 (24.9/sq mi)
March 20, 1837
San Pedro de la Cueva [ ag]
San Pedro de la Cueva
1,458
1,604
−9.1%
2,229.5
860.8
0.7/km2 (1.7/sq mi)
May 14, 1864
Santa Ana
Santa Ana
16,203
16,014
+1.2%
1,476.6
570.1
11.0/km2 (28.4/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Santa Cruz [ ah]
Santa Cruz
1,835
1,998
−8.2%
1,001.2
386.6
1.8/km2 (4.7/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Sáric [ ai]
Sáric
2,058
2,703
−23.9%
1,353.6
522.6
1.5/km2 (3.9/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Soyopa [ aj]
Soyopa
1,368
1,284
+6.5%
1,716.8
662.9
0.8/km2 (2.1/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Suaqui Grande [ ak]
Suaqui Grande
1,114
1,121
−0.6%
914.8
353.2
1.2/km2 (3.2/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Tepache [ al]
Tepache
1,178
1,365
−13.7%
778.7
300.7
1.5/km2 (3.9/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Trincheras [ am]
Trincheras
1,381
1,731
−20.2%
3,010.4
1,162.3
0.5/km2 (1.2/sq mi)
April 28, 1916
Tubutama [ an]
Tubutama
1,473
1,735
−15.1%
1,725.4
666.2
0.9/km2 (2.2/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Ures
Ures
8,548
9,185
−6.9%
3,088.1
1,192.3
2.8/km2 (7.2/sq mi)
May 13, 1848
Villa Hidalgo [ ao]
Villa Hidalgo
1,429
1,738
−17.8%
1,471.5
568.1
1.0/km2 (2.5/sq mi)
December 11, 1874
Villa Pesqueira [ ap]
Villa Pesqueira
1,043
1,254
−16.8%
1,123.2
433.7
0.9/km2 (2.4/sq mi)
May 6, 1852
Yécora [ aq]
Yécora
4,793
6,046
−20.7%
2,667.7
1,030.0
1.8/km2 (4.7/sq mi)
December 3, 1862
Sonora
—
2,944,840
2,662,480
+10.6%
179,354.7
69,249.2
16.4/km2 (42.5/sq mi)
—
Mexico
—
126,014,024
112,336,538
+12.2%
1,960,646.7
757,010
64.3/km2 (166.5/sq mi)
—
Notes
^ Aconchi was merged with Arizpe between 1837-1862 and 1930-1932.[ 3]
^ Altar was renamed Villa Figueroa from 1828 to 1837.[ 3]
^ Bacadéhuachi was merged with Bacerac in 1930-31.[ 3]
^ Bacanora was merged with Sahuaripa in 1930-32.[ 3]
^ Bacum was merged with Cajeme in 1930-31.[ 3]
^ Banámichi was merged with Arizpe in 1930-31.[ 3]
^ Baviácora was merged with Arizpe in 1930-31.[ 3]
^ Bavispe was merged with Bacerac in 1930-31.[ 3]
^ Carbó was merged with San Miguel de Horcasitas in 1943-1953.[ 3]
^ Cucurpe was merged with Magdalena in 1930-32.[ 3]
^ Empalme was merged with Guaymas in 1940-1953.[ 3]
^ Fronteras was merged with Agua Prieta in 1930-31.[ 3]
^ Granados was merged with Cumpas in 1930-32.[ 3]
^ Guaymas was originally incorporated as Villa de Salvación, changing its name on May 13, 1848 .[ 3]
^ Hermosillo was originally incorporated as Pitic, changing its name on September 5, 1828 .[ 3]
^ Huachinera was merged with Bacerac in 1930-1952.[ 3]
^ Huásabas was merged with Cumpas in 1930-32.[ 3]
^ Huépac was merged with Arizpe in 1930-31.[ 3]
^ Imuris was merged with Magdalena in 1930-31.[ 3]
^ La Colorada was originally incorporated as Mineral de las Prietas, changing its name on December 7, 1903 . It was merged with Hermosillo in 1930-34.[ 3]
^ Mazatán was merged with Ures in 1930-34.[ 3]
^ Moctezuma was originally incorporated as Oposura, changing its name on September 9, 1828 .[ 3]
^ Nácori Chico was merged with Bacerac in 1930-1934.[ 3]
^ Onavas was merged with Soyopa in 1903-1907 and with Ures in 1930-1935.[ 3]
^ Opodepe was merged with Rayón in 1930-1933.[ 3]
^ Oquitoa was merged with Altar in 1930-1934.[ 3]
^ Quiriego was merged with Rosario in 1930-1932.[ 3]
^ Rayón was originally incorporated as Nacameri, changing its name on April 8, 1850 .[ 3]
^ Sahuaripa was originally incorporated as Ostimuri, changing its name on March 20, 1837 .[ 3]
^ San Felipe de Jesús was merged with Arizpe in 1930-32.[ 3]
^ San Javier was merged with Hermosillo in 1930-34.[ 3]
^ San Miguel de Horcasitas was merged with Ures in 1930-34.[ 3]
^ San Pedro de la Cueva was merged with Batuc in 1930-32.[ 3]
^ Santa Cruz was merged with Nogales in 1930-31.[ 3]
^ Sáric was merged with Altar in 1930-34.[ 3]
^ Soyopa was merged with Ures in 1930-35.[ 3]
^ Suaqui Grande was merged with Hermosillo in 1930-35.[ 3]
^ Tepache was merged with Moctezuma in 1930-32.[ 3]
^ Trincheras was merged with Pitiquito in 1930-34.[ 3]
^ Tubutama was merged with Sáric in 1903-08 and with Altar in 1930-34.[ 3]
^ Villa Hidalgo was originally incorporated as Oputo, changing its name on April 15, 1967 .[ 3]
^ Villa Pesqueira was originally incorporated as Mápate, changing its name on June 30, 1934 . Merged with Ures in 1930-34.[ 3]
^ Yécora was merged with Ures in 1930-35.[ 3]
References