Altar Municipality facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Altar (municipality)
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Location of the municipality in Sonora.
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| Country |  Mexico |
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| State | Sonora | |
| Capital | Altar | |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 9,049 | |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain Standard Time) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (No DST) | |
Altar is a municipality in the Mexican state of Sonora in north-western Mexico. The municipality had a 2010 census population of 9,049 inhabitants, the vast majority of whom lived in the municipal seat of Altar, which had a population of 7,927 inhabitants. There are no other localities with over 1,000 inhabitants.
Contents
History
The territory of the municipality was originally inhabited by the O'odham people. It was founded in 1775 by Captain Bernardo de Urrea, as a military fort, being called Santa Gertrudis del Altar and later Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Altar.
Geography
The total area of the municipality (urban and rural) is 3,944.90 square kilometers. The municipal population in 2010 was 9,049 inhabitants, with 7,927 (87.6%) living in the municipal seat. Other settlements are La Cabecera Municipal, Ejido 16 de Septiembre, Ejido Llano Blanco, and Ejido Santa Matilde.
Surrounding municipalities are Sáric, Tubutama, Atil, Trincheras, Pitiquito, Caborca and Oquitoa. The northern boundary is with Pima County in the U.S. state of Arizona.
Climate
The land lies at an elevation of 200–400 metres (660–1,310 ft) sloping towards the Gulf of California. The climate is dry with extremely high temperatures in the summer. The temperatures sometimes exceed 131 °F (55 °C) and is among the hottest places in the world from May to September.
Economy
The economy is based on agriculture and cattle raising. The main crops are wheat, cotton, corn, beans, sorghum, and table grapes. The town is also a staging area for the flow of immigrants that will attempt entry into the United States through the shared Sonoran Desert.
Towns and villages
The largest localities (cities, towns, and villages) are:
| Name | 2010 Census Population |
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| Altar | 7,927 |
| Llano Blanco (Rancho Seco) | 460 |
| 16 de Septiembre | 296 |
| Total Municipality | 9,049 |
Adjacent municipalities and counties
- Sáric Municipality - northeast
- Tubutama Municipality - east
- Atil Municipality - southeast
- Oquitoa Municipality - southeast
- Trincheras Municipality - south
- Pitiquito Municipality - southwest
- Caborca Municipality - west
- Pima County, Arizona - north
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Altar para niños
