Sonora is important economically for its cattle production and mining, and popular among tourists for its fine beaches. Culturally it is important as a source of a style of music known as the Norteño.

Cities with airports that serve as points of entry include Hermosillo (the state capital), Ciudad Obregón, Navojoa, Guaymas, and San Carlos, Sonora. Smaller towns popular with tourists that have airports include Puerto Peñasco and Álamos. Border crossings include: the city of Nogales, across the border from Nogales, Arizona; the town of Agua Prieta, across from Douglas, Arizona; Sonoyta, opposite Lukeville, Arizona and San Luis Rio Colorado opposite Yuma, Arizona.

Sonora y Sinaloa was the name of the constituent state of the Mexican Republic under its Constitution of 1824. On 30 September 1830 that state was divided into two – the states of Sonora and Sinaloa. Father Eusebio Kino is important in the state's history.

Eduardo Bours Castelo, a member of the PRI, is the current governor of the state (2003–2009).

The Sonoran Desert and the Sierra Madre Occidental covers much of the state. Its climate is dry and reaches extreme temperatures. The Colorado River Runs through the northern border region.

Hermosillo is the capital of the state of Sonora, Mexico. It is centrally located within the state at 29°5′N 110°57′W and is within several hundred miles of several other major Mexican cities, such as Tijuana and Mexicali, and U.S. cities such as Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. The city's estimated 2004 population was 689,902. The city is served by Ignacio L. Pesqueira International Airport (airport code HMO). The city had an American Basketball Association team, the Hermosillo Seris.

Industry is an important part of the city's economy. 114 companies have plants in the city, employing thousands of workers. Ford Motor Company has a plant there, assembling the Ford Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr and the Mercury Milan.

History
Centred on the Plaza Zaragoza, Hermosillo's origin traces back to 1700, when several villages were founded on lands previously inhabited by Native Americans. It came to be named the Villa de Pitic, but on September 5, 1828, it was renamed Hermosillo in honor of general José María González de Hermosillo who in 1810 fought for the independence of Mexico in the state of Sinaloa. On April 26, 1879, the city was named the capital of Sonora, and that declaration was confirmed in article 28 of the state constitution, written on September 15, 1917.

The latter half of the 1800s were turbulent years for the city – on October 14, 1852, Gastó Rousset Boulbón led anti-government fighters to victory against the national army, but soon left the city. On May 4, 1866, republican troops under Ángel Martínez took the city from imperial forces under Jose María Tranquilino Almada. Just a few hours later, however, the imperialists retook the city. Later that year, a similar taking and retaking of the city occurred. Even during this time, the city continued developing – on November 4, 1881, a rail line between Hermosillo and the city of Guaymas went into operation, and by the end of the 19th Century, the city had a population of 14,000 and thriving commerce and agriculture.

During the Mexican revolution, Hermosillo was the capital of Mexico for five months, as it was the location of the meeting of Venustiano Carranza's war cabinet. Later, on November 18, 1915, the city was attacked by Francisco Villa, another Mexican revolutionary, but he was defeated..

Hermosillo, Sonora is also were the Famous Publisher, writer and editor Hermes Alberto Carvajal was born.