The 1870 US Census includes the military personnel at Camp Crittenden as well as the settlers around the Sonoita Creek Valley. Camp Crittenden was established in 1867 on the mesa overlooking the former Fort Buchanan site. Camp Crittenden was disbanded in 1873 but not before spawning another civilian community: the town of Crittenden. Fifty-three percent of the soldiers and settlers were foreign-born. This census reflects the population in what is now eastern Santa Cruz County.

Thanks to the Arizona Historical Society in Tucson for maintaining copies of the “Census-Territories of New Mexico and Arizona” (US Govt Print Office 1965, 312.979 U58). You can click on the links below to view the individual census records.  In general, the civilian residents are listed in alphabetical order as opposed to by location or household which is the order of the typical census document.

Click the link below to view the census data:

1870 Census in eastern Santa Cruz County

After the ratification of the Gadsden Purchase in 1854, the eastern portion of Santa Cruz County became part of the United States. In 1856 US Army Major Enoch Steen who was stationed in Santa Fe, NM was given orders to establish a military post to defend the citizens of Tucson from the Apache. Upon his arrival in the area along with Captain Richard Ewell, the two officers decided that the Tucson valley could not sustain a military post. They rode south along the Santa Cruz River with two companies of  United States Dragoons and established Camp Moore near Calabasas, at the confluence of the Santa Cruz River and Sonoita Creek.

The citizens of Tucson were disappointed when the troops left the immediate area and started a campaign to bring the troops closer home. After several months of receiving complaints at the Santa Fe Headquarters, Major Steen was ordered to locate a military post closer to Tucson. Captain Ewell chose the location for the next encampment at the headwaters of the Sonoita Creek (about 9 miles northeast from Patagonia along Highway 82). It was named Fort Buchanan in honor of the president.

The new location afforded ample forage for the horses plus it was less prone to mosquitoes than Camp Moore and was in the corridor used by the Apache to raid into Sonora. Unfortunately, according to the citizens, it was still not close enough to Tucson so they continued to complain until Fort Buchanan was abandoned by the army in 1861. (In case you are interested, Tucsonians eventually got their own Camp Lowell which became Fort Lowell in 1873.)

Following the establishment of Fort Buchanan in 1857, the Sonoita Creek Valley was soon inhabited by farmers, merchants and miners making the area eligible to participate in the 1860 Census.  In summary, the total population for Fort Buchanan and the Sonoita Creek Valley area was listed at 201. The 2 companies of dragoons at Fort Buchanan accounted for 92 soldiers, 26 of whom were born in Ireland. There were 43 civilians living at Fort Buchanan and 66 civilians along Sonoita Creek for a total of 109. Of the civilians, 57 were adult males, 26 adult females and 26 children. Of the civilian population, 47 were born in New Mexico or Mexico.

Thanks to the Arizona Historical Society in Tucson for maintaining copies of the “Census-Territories of New Mexico and Arizona” (US Govt Print Office 1965, 312.979 U58). You can click on the links below to view the individual census records.  In general, the civilian residents are listed in alphabetical order as opposed to by location or household which is the order of the typical census document.

Click the links below to view the census data:

Military Census –  First U.S. Dragoons, Companies D & G

Civilian Census

Sonoita Creek Settlement Census

The Patagonia Museum members meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 18th at 2 PM in the Patagonia Library. Our guest speaker will be Mary Noon Kasulaitis who will speak on the history of Arivaca.

Mary Noon Kasulaitis is a cattle rancher and retired Pima County Public Library librarian. She has been researching Arivaca history since the early 1980s. Her great grandparents, Dr A.H. and Emma Noon, came to Southern Arizona in 1879 to do some prospecting and started a cattle ranch at Oro Blanco, which is still in the family. Her father, Fred Noon, was on the Board of the Arizona Historical Society and wrote articles on Oro Blanco and Arivaca history in the local papers. Mary has published in the Journal of Arizona History and the Tucson Corral of the Westerners’ Smoke Signal. She is involved in historic preservation and is President of Friends of the Arivaca Schoolhouse & Historic Townsite, Inc. She lives on her grandfather’s homestead at Arivaca.

The Museum board will be holding our annual members meeting on January 18th at 10:30 AM in the Patagonia Public Library meeting room.

Following a short business meeting, you will hear from our guest speaker, renown local author, Nancy Valentine. She will speak about passages from her historical novel—”J.R. Bartlett and the Captive Girl”.

The book is based on a true U.S./ Mexico Borderlands story of the perilous and heartwarming journey of John Russell Bartlett, head of the 1850-1853 U.S. Boundary Survey Commission, to return a rescued Mexican Apache captive girl, Inez Gonzales, to her family in Santa Cruz, Sonora Mexico.

Good news! The Patagonia Museum will host our fifth fundraising and educational tour to the Rio Sonora Valley on February 18, 19 and 20. Our expert guides are Dr. Deni Seymour and Bill Steen. You can read more about their very impressive backgrounds here.  Musical entertainment will be provided by P.D. Ronstadt and The Company.

Our chartered motor coach will depart from Patagonia on Tuesday, February 18, at 8 am and will return to Patagonia on Thursday, February 20, in the late afternoon.

The price per person which includes transportation, lodging, meals and meal gratuities is $600 (double occupancy) per museum members and $650 for non-members. (As an FYI, membership into the Patagonia Museum is open to anyone who supports our work. The fee starts as low as $5 for students, $35 for individuals and $50 for households so if you are planning to go to Banamichi, it’s worth becoming a member….for that reason and a lot more.)

There is limited seating for this tour so please let us know if you plan to go  as soon as convenient. Proceeds from this fundraising event support our programs and projects.  For more info, see the Banamichi Bus Tour Flyer March 2020.

If you would like to join us, please print off the registration form and return it along with a check to PO Box 919, Patagonia, AZ 85624.

Banamichi Bus Tour Registration Form March 2020

Questions should be directed to German Quiroga at 520.343.5641 or via email: german@thepatagoniamuseum.org.

The official word: the Patagonia Museum enjoyed another educational and entertaining bus tour to Mexico. On November 9, 10 and 11, museum guests traveled to Casa Grandes, Chihuahua and Mata Ortiz.

Highlights of the tour included a picnic lunch at Pancho Villa State Park in Columbus, New Mexico, a guided tour of Paquime and El Museo de las Culturas de el Norte, a pottery making demonstration in Mata Ortiz and a visit to the plaza at Viejo Casas Grandes .

Don’t take it from us…here’s what one of the participants had to say:

“Just wanted to thank you again for a great tour with wonderful people! You did a super job of getting everything organized and making adjustments when needed! Having Bobby Ronstadt along was an added bonus. Becky was also an excellent guide…..we learned so much!