Sonora, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sonora, Texas
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Sonora entrance sign
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| Nickname(s):
"Home of the Caverns of Sonora"
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Location in the state of Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Sutton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.22 sq mi (5.75 km2) |
| • Land | 2.22 sq mi (5.75 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,129 ft (649 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,502 |
| • Density | 1,127.0/sq mi (435.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
76950
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| Area code(s) | Area code 325 |
| FIPS code | 48-68756 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1368606 |
| Website | City of Sonora |
Sonora is a city in and the county seat of Sutton County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,502 at the 2020 census.
Contents
Geography and climate
Sonora is located at 30°34′5″N 100°38′39″W / 30.56806°N 100.64417°W (30.568166, –100.644163).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.1 km2), all land.
The area lies in the western portions of the Texas Hill Country, a region of limestone outcrops and rolling terrain dotted with areas of live oaks (Quercus fusiformis) and juniper (Juniperus ashei) in the form of a woodland or savanna, alternating with a blend of various grasses and other shrubs and cacti.
Sonora's climate is subhumid and subtropical, though periods of long drought are not uncommon due to the proximity of deserts and steppes nearby, to the west. The upland location allows some of the periodic Gulf of Mexico moisture to interact with frontal systems and elevated terrain to create more clouds and precipitation than locations in the brush country to the south, or the steppes and deserts to the west and northwest. Thunderstorms with heavy rainfall are most frequent during spring and fall months, though some lighter, steady precipitation and low clouds can occur during the winter, due in large part to frontal systems originating on the plains and prairies to the north.
Summers are long and hot, often with higher humidity, though a good breeze often moderates the heat. Fall through spring months are often pleasant, though winter can experience brief periods of cold or cloudy weather.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 1,009 | — | |
| 1930 | 1,942 | 92.5% | |
| 1940 | 2,528 | 30.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,633 | 4.2% | |
| 1960 | 2,619 | −0.5% | |
| 1970 | 2,149 | −17.9% | |
| 1980 | 3,856 | 79.4% | |
| 1990 | 2,751 | −28.7% | |
| 2000 | 2,924 | 6.3% | |
| 2010 | 3,027 | 3.5% | |
| 2020 | 2,502 | −17.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 789 | 31.53% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 6 | 0.24% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 2 | 0.08% |
| Asian (NH) | 4 | 0.16% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 12 | 0.48% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 31 | 1.24% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,658 | 66.27% |
| Total | 2,502 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,502 people, 1,085 households, and 799 families residing in the city.
Education
The City of Sonora is served by the Sonora Independent School District. Sonora exhibits a proud tradition of both academic and athletic success in its long history. The Sonora High School Broncos have won the most football state championships in their division (2A) with five, the most recent having been won in 2000 against the Blanco Panthers.
The latest championship team was coached by Jason Herring. 2000 was the first of two State Championships for him, his second coming in 2011 (beating the Broncos on the way there) with the Refugio Bobcats.
History
On the night of April 2, 1901, William Carver, a member of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch, was shot and killed in Jack Owen's Bakery by Sheriff E.S. Briant and his deputies. Briant was trying to arrest Carver on suspicion of the murder of Oliver Thornton in Concho County.
Notable people
- Dan Blocker, who portrayed "Hoss" on Bonanza, was a high-school English and drama teacher in Sonora before he was cast in the NBC western television series
- Bill Ratliff, Former State Senator and Lieutenant Governor of Mount Pleasant was reared in Sonora and graduated from high school there
- Jack Taylor, a mayor of Mesa, Arizona, who served in both houses of the Arizona State Legislature, was born in Sonora in 1907
Attractions
- Caverns of Sonora: approximately eight miles to the west
- Eaton Hill Nature Center: interpretive exhibits and over three miles of hiking trails.
- Miers House Museum: restored 1890s Victorian home.
- Old Sonora Ice House Ranch Museum, a museum focused on the legacy of Will Carver.
See also
In Spanish: Sonora (Texas) para niños
