Atil, Sonora
Atil is a small town in Atil Municipality in the northwest of the Mexican state of Sonora. The total area is 400.43 km² and the population of the municipality was 734 in 2005, of whom 699 lived in the municipal seat. Neighboring municipalities are Tubutama, Trincheras, Oquitoa, and Altar.
History
The first inhabitants were Pima Alto or Nebome Indians, who before conversion had led a nomadic or semi-nomadic life. It is said that Atil means "Arrow Point", in the Pima language.The town was founded in 1687 as a Jesuit mission called Los Siete Príncipes del Átil. It was intermittently a visita of Mission San Pedro y San Pablo del Tubutama, and had Mission San Antonio Paduano de Oquitoa as a visita.
Some buildings were constructed by Jesuit missionary Jacobo Sedelmayer. The name of the mission was changed to San Francisco de Átil when the Franciscans arrived in 1768.
Missionaries
Missionaries stationed in Atil included:Geography
Atil is one of the smallest municipalities in the state.The terrain is desert and mostly flat. Summer temperatures average 25.6 °C but daytime extremes are frequently above 40 °C. The winter average is 12.8 °C.
There is one tarmacked road crossing the municipality linking Altar with Tubutama. There are several dirt roads crossing the desert.