Nogales

Border town on the north-central border of the state of Sonora in Mexico; population (1995) 133,500. Straddling a mountain pass, the town lies at an altitude of 1,103 m/3,619 ft on the US frontier, on the north side of which is the US town of Nogales. The two towns form one urban centre. It is the centre of a mining and cattle-raising area, and a transport point for fruit and vegetables going to US markets.

Nogales' comparatively recent development owes much to its position on the frontier and its being one of the main customs towns in Mexico. The town is surrounded by walnut groves (nogales). It is the terminus of the Mexico City-Nogales railway, which connects here with the US Southern Pacific railway.

Nogales and its surrounding area were occupied by the Pima Indians when the Spanish arrived in the 16th century. The town was founded in 1880 as a customs and trading post at the strategic Nogales Pass, used by the Hohokams and Pima Indians for at least two millennia. The Pimería Alta Historical Society holds archives and information about the history of the region.