Nogales, AZ

Hotels/Motels

Location / Description

Nogales is a popular port of entry on the international border between the US and Mexico. It is the county seat of Santa Cruz County. Both Nogales, Arizona and its sister city (Nogales, Sonora) are named for walnut trees (nogal in Spanish) that were at one time plentiful here. Today the area is known for unique shopping, historical, and cultural adventures. In fact, over 60 percent of Nogales' sales tax comes from Mexican shoppers crossing the border daily. Nogales and its sister city are home to one of the largest cooperative manufacturing clusters - maquiladora - which enable American manufacturing plants located on both sides of the border to take advantage of favorable wages and operating costs and excellent transportation and distribution networks.

---

History

Nogales was established by Jacob and Isaac Isaacson who built a trading post at the border in 1880. Two years later, in 1882, brought the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad and the first rail connection between the United States and Mexico. Nogales was also known as Isaacson for a short time. The U.S. Postal Service opened the Isaacson Post Office but renamed it to Nogales in 1883. Nogales was incorporated in 1893.

In 1917 Nogales was the site of the last engagement in the Indian Wars.

Nogales was the filming location for the movie version of the musical Oklahoma! in 1955. Nogales was chosen because it looked more like turn-of-the-century Oklahoma than anywhere in Oklahoma.

---

Things To Do

---

Resources & Nearby Attractions

Recreation & Wilderness Areas

• The Patagonia - Sonoita Creek Sanctuary, 19 miles east of Nogales, sanctuary for diverse bird life. 
• Parker Canyon 
• Pena Blanca Lake 
• Patagonia Lake State Park

Historic & Points of Interest

• Old Tubac Schoolhouse 
• Old Nogales City Hall 
• Santa Cruz County Courthouse 
• Patagonia Railroad Depot 
• Pimeria Alta Historical Society Museum 
• Pete Kitchens Outpost 
• Ghost towns and mining camps