Colonia Juarez

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Colonia Juárez is a small town in northern Chihuahua, Mexico. Colonia Juárez is located in the valley of the Piedras Verdes river on the edge of the flatlands running up to the front range of the Sierra Madre mountains. It is a little north of Mata Ortiz and about 20 kilometers to the southwest of Casas Grandes. The colony was one of many colonies in Mexico settled by Mormon pioneers. Though some claim these colonies were organized in order to evade U.S. polygamy laws in the nineteenth century, these colonies had been planned long before this confrontation became an issue. Though keeping polygamist families together was a motivation for some colonists, to explain this chapter of the Mormon colonization of western North America solely in terms of polygamy is erroneous. It should also be noted that the LDS people who still live there are mainstream Mormons and have not practiced polygamy for many generations. Of the several colonies in the states of Chihuahua and Sonora, the only other one with a continuous history as a Mormon colony is Colonia Dublan, just north of Nuevo Casas Grandes.

The Academia Juarez has existed since 1897. The school is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It goes from 7th to 12th grade.

Colonia Juarez is known for its peach and apple orchards as well as cattle ranches. It is also known for the many graduates from its renowned academy. Residents typically work as farmers, ranchers or in the local schools.

Colonia Juarez is the home of the Academia Juarez (Juarez Stake Academy). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints built a temple in Colonia Juárez for its members. It was dedicated on March 6 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley. The Colonia Juarez temple is one of the first of the smaller temples constructed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Colonia Juarez

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