SONORA, TEXAS

Sutton County Seat, West Texas

30°34'5"N 100°38'39"W (30.568166, -100.644163)

Intersection of I-10 and Hwy 277
57 miles W of Junction on I-10
91 miles N of Del Rio on Hwy 277
Population: 2,762 Est. (2018)
3,027 (2010) 2,924 (2000) 2,751 (1990)

Book Hotel Here › Sonora Hotels

Downtown Sonora in March 1898.
Sutton County courthouse is the prominent building at the end
of Main Street where it still stands.
Photo courtesy Sonora Chamber of Commerce

Sonora, Texas Attractions:

Sutton County Courthouse

In addition to the courthouse there is also a restored Sante Fe depot and Sonora's old jail.

The Caverns of Sonora - Eight miles west of town on I-10, then another 7 miles south. These are the best in the world according to people who should know. The tour is a mile and a half and leaves hourly.

Same view of downtown Sonora in the 1950s
showing the city hall in the foreground and
the courthouse at the end of the street
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2002

Sutton County courthouse ›

Historical Marker on courthouse square:

Sutton County Jail

Soon after Sutton County was organized (1890), the commissioners authorized the Pauley Jail Building and Manufacturing Co. of St. Louis to erect this jail. Construction was begun in Feb. 1891 under the supervision of Judge J. L. Dunagan. Completed in Sept. 1891, the two story native stone building had a jailer's residence in addition to cells for lawbreakers. The first prisoner here was gambler and gunman John Denson, a cousin of outlaw John Wesley Hardin.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark-1975

Former Sutton County Jail
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, 2002
More Texas Jails

High School, Sonora, Texas
Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com
More Texas Schoolhouses

Sonora City Hall
TE photo, May 2000

West Texas Utilities company old neon sign

West Texas Utilities neon sign
TE photo, May 2000

Sonora, Texas Chronicles:

Badger Fight by Mike Cox
Initiations like this happened all over the West. The modus operandi varied from perpetrator to perpetrator.

Elmo Johnson by Mike Cox
I drove to Sonora to interview him. As best I can tell, I’m the only person who ever took down what he had to say. My only regret is that I didn’t pump him harder for stories about his days along the Rio Grande the last time conditions were dicey.

"Cattle Highway" between Sonora and Brady
History cartoon by Roger T. Moore

Sonora, Texas Forum:

Subject: Sutton county
I used to live in Sonora when I was young, 88-94 approx. I do not any longer. You should get someone there to submit a photo of the Hunt Mansion ... It's beautiful. - Aubrey Smithwick, July 27, 2015

Sonora Tourist Information
Sonora Chamber of Commerce: 325-387-2880
website www.sonoratx-chamber.com

Take a road trip

Sonora, Texas Nearby Towns:
Junction
Del Rio
See Sutton County | West Texas

Book Hotel Here:
Sonora Hotels | More Hotels

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