About Sonora
A ranching town on the edge of the Hill Country, the seat of Sutton County, and home of the Caverns of Sonora.
From frontier town to county seat
Sonora began in 1889, when rancher Charlie Adams established a frontier town on the rolling limestone country of what would become Sutton County.
The young town was chosen as the county seat in 1890, and its residents voted to incorporate as a city in 1917. Ranching shaped Sonora’s economy and character from the start, and it still does.
Sonora sits where the Texas Hill Country gives way to West Texas: open savanna of live oak and juniper mottes, grasses, shrubs and cactus. Just outside town lie the Caverns of Sonora, known for their crystal formations and the reason for the city’s nickname.
| County | Sutton (county seat) |
|---|---|
| Population | 2,502 (2020 Census) |
| Area | 2.22 sq mi |
| Elevation | 2,129 ft |
| Settled | 1889 |
| Incorporated | 1917 |
| Government | General Law city |
| ZIP code | 76950 |
| Time zone | Central |
Milestones
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1889
Charlie Adams establishes Sonora as a frontier town.
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1890
Sonora is selected as the Sutton County seat.
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1917
Residents incorporate the City of Sonora.
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1957
Joe Berger Field opens as Sonora’s first airport.
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2026
The city launches a new, accessible website.
Streets of Sonora
Have a photo of Sonora you’d like to share? Email it to City Hall at [email protected].
Main Street at dusk Sutton County Courthouse Live oaks west of town Caverns of Sonora Sonora Municipal Airport
Visiting Sonora
The Sonora Chamber of Commerce has lodging, dining, events and visitor information, including the annual Sutton County Days and the Caverns of Sonora.
Sutton County
County services, including district and county courts, property records, vehicle registration and the tax office, are handled by Sutton County, not the city.
A draft seal for the City of Sonora
The city has no official seal on record. This draft is offered for City Council review. It takes its star and colors from the city’s existing logo.
- The star
- The Lone Star of Texas, in the deep red of the city’s logo.
- The hills and live oak
- Sonora’s place where the Hill Country meets West Texas.
- 1889 and 1917
- The year Sonora was settled and the year it was incorporated.