Atil (also Átil) is a small town in Atil Municipality in the northwest of the Mexican state of Sonora.  The total area is 400.43 km² and the population of the municipality was 734 in 2005, of whom 699 lived in the municipal seat (2000).  Neighboring municipalities are Tubutama, Trincheras, Oquitoa, and Altar.

The town was founded in 1687 with the establishment of the mission known as Santa Teresa de Atil by the Jesuit missionary Eusebio Kino. The first inhabitants were Pima Alto or Nebome Indians, who before conversion had led a nomadic or semi-nomadic life. The ruins of Kino's misson remain to this day.

Some buildings were constructed by Jesuit missionary Jacobo Sedelmayer.  

Atil is one of the smallest municipalities in the state.  It is said that its name means "Arrow Point", in the Pima language.

Geography
Atil is one of the smallest municipalities in the state.

The terrain is desert and mostly flat.  Summer temperatures average 25.6 °C but daytime extremes are frequently above 40 °C.  The winter average is 12.8 °C.

There is one tarmacked road crossing the municipality linking Altar with Tubutama.  There are several dirt roads crossing the desert.

Economy
The economy is based on agriculture with lands irrigated by the Cuautémoc Reservoir located in the north of the municipality.  There is also cattle raising.

References

Other sources
Enciclopedia de los Municipios de Mexico
Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografia, e Informática (INEGI)

External links
Atil, Ayuntamiento Digital (Official WebSite of Atil, Sonora)

See also
Santa Teresa de Atil

Populated places in Sonora
Populated places in the Sonoran Desert of Mexico
Populated places established in 1687
1680s establishments in New Spain