The city was founded in 1563 by the
Spanish conquistador Francisco de Ibarra, the first European explorer of the lofty
Sierra Madre Occidental mountains. In 1610 a fort was built to ward off the fierce Zuaque and Tehueco
Native Americans, who constantly harassed the Spaniards. For years, El Fuerte served as the gateway to the vast frontiers of the northern territories of
Sonora,
Arizona and
California, all of which were sparsely populated by unyielding tribes of native amerindians. For nearly three centuries it was the most important commercial and agricultural center of the vast northwestern region of Mexico. El Fuerte was a chief trading post for silver miners and gold seekers from the
Urique and
Batopilas mines in the nearby mountains of the Sierra Madre Occidental and its branches. In 1824, El Fuerte became the capital city of the newly created Mexican state of
Sonora y Sinaloa (reaching up deep into modern-day Arizona). It remained the capital for several years until the split of this state into the states of
Sinaloa and
Sonora. == Tourism ==