The name of the city of Nogales predates the arrival of the Gadsen Purchase Boundry Survey party and the name was agreed upon in 1882. The first settlers said the stream was lined with nogal (walnut) trees. In his report Lt. N. Michler spoke about visiting the "pretty little valley of Los Nogales," saying that the camp was near Los Nogales itself. On July 21, 1855 newspapers reported that the American and Mexican Boundry Commissions were encamped permanently in Los Nogales. The official name for the camp was Monument. However, to avoid confusion of its location the Weekly Arizonan in 1859, refered to the camp as "Monument or Nogales Rancho." Nogales Ranch was in Nogales Pass thorugh which the railroad would later lay rails beside Nogales Wash. 

Mesquite is the most common shrub/small tree of the Desert Southwest. Click on the links below to learn about the different species and the way  there are utilized throughout the southwest.