Area Cattle Ranchers
The history of ranching in Santa Cruz County closely parallels the signing and implementation of the Gadsen Purchase of 1856. The Purchase superseded the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which ended the Mexican-American War of 1848. It was in this treaty that the U.S agreed to recognize and honor the titles of all the early day Spanish Grants that lay in the vast territories that Mexico had ceded to the U.S. at the end of this war. Likewise, the United States also agreed to honor the same titles to the land that lay within the Gadsen Purchase which included all the land that lay south of the Gila River in Arizona. The early day ranchers established their ranching basis on land that was largely encompassed by these Spanish Land Grants of which there were several within the bounds of what is now Santa Cruz County.

The life of the cattle rancher has been grueling. Often these stewards of our undeveloped frontiers work long hours under increasingly tough conditions trying to hold onto this precious land.

The Sonoita Inn has named each of its 18 rooms in honor of these cattle ranchers who have dedicated their lives to hard work on the land:

The Sands Ranch, Pyett Ranch, Clyne Ranch, Douglas Cattle Ranch, Vera Earl Ranch, Lazy DS Ranch, Mountain View Hereford Ranch, Pine Tree Ranch, Hale Ranch, Diamond C Ranch, Crown C Ranch, Box Canyon Ranch, Mustang Ranch, Grass Ridge Farm, Empire Ranch, Blain Lewis Ranch, San Ignacio del Babacomari, Vaca Ranch.