{{Short description|Port town in Sinaloa, Mexico}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Topolobampo |nickname = Topo |motto = |image_skyline = Watching the boats in Topolobampo, Sinaloa, Mexico.jpg| |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_flag = |image_seal = escudoahome.jpg |image_shield = |image_map = |pushpin_map=Mexico Sinaloa#Mexico |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Mexico |subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]] |subdivision_name = {{flag|Mexico}} |subdivision_type1 = [[Political divisions of Mexico|State]] |subdivision_name1 = [[Sinaloa]] |subdivision_type2 = [[Municipalities of Mexico|Municipality]] |subdivision_name2 = [[Ahome]] |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager --> |leader_name1 = |leader_title2 = |leader_name2 = |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |established_title = Founded in |established_date = 1884 |established_title2 = Founded by |established_date2 = Albert K. Owen |established_title3 = |established_date3 = |area_magnitude = | unit_pref = Metric |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_km2 = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_km2 = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |population_as_of = 2010 |population_note = <ref name="INEGI">{{cite web |url=http://www.inegi.org.mx/sistemas/consulta_resultados/iter2010.aspx?c=27329&s=est |title=Principales resultados por localidad 2010 (ITER) |year=2010 |publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía}}</ref> |population_total = 6,361 |population_density_km2 = |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |timezone = [[Mountain Time Zone]] |utc_offset = -7 |coordinates = {{coord|25|36|20|N|109|03|0|W|region:MX|display=inline,title}} |elevation_m = 10 |elevation_ft = |postal_code_type = |postal_code = 81370 |website = [http://www.puertotopolobampo.com.mx Official page] |footnotes = }}
'''Topolobampo''' ({{IPA|es|topoloˈβampo}}) is a [[port town]] on the [[Gulf of California]], located in the municipality of [[Ahome]] in northwest [[Sinaloa]], Mexico. It is the fifth-largest town in Ahome, reporting a 2020 census population of 6,198.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brinkhoff |first=Thomas |date=February 1, 2021 |title=City Population |url=https://citypopulation.de/en/mexico/sinaloa/ahome/250010240__topolobampo/ |access-date=December 18, 2025}}</ref>
The port connects the region to the rest of [[northern Mexico]] via the [[Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico]] ({{langx|en|Chihuahua–Pacific Railway}}), which has a terminus in the nearby city of [[Los Mochis]]. Topolobampo also houses a terminal for ferry lines connecting the port to [[La Paz, Baja California Sur]].
The town is the beginning of the Mexico–U.S. trade corridor [[La Entrada al Pacífico]], which connects the port to [[Midland–Odessa]], Texas.
==Topolobampo utopian colony== {{Georgism|communities}} {{main|Topolobampo (colony)}} [[File:Topolobampo Sign.jpg|thumb|left|Sign in Topolobampo, Sinaloa]] Topolobampo was the site of a radical "utopian" colony inspired by [[Henry George]]'s [[Georgism|economic ideas]]. Albert Kimsey Owen was its founder and leader; [[Marie Howland]] and John W. Lovell were prominent backers.<ref>"Albert Kimsey Owen papers: Finding Aid." https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c851449m/</ref><ref>("Utopias - a criticial exploration" https://utopias.library.fresnostate.edu/exhibits/show/hope-versus-reality--how-perfe/the-beginning-of-hope) accessed March 28, 2025</ref><ref>Theosophy Wiki: "John W. Lovell". https://theosophy.wiki/en/John_W._Lovell. accessed March 28, 2025</ref>
That utopian group published a newsletter in English, ''The Credit Foncier of Sinaloa'' in Topolobampo. The masthead says "Collective ownership and management for public utilities and conveniences - the community responsible for the health, usefulness, individuality and security of each. - Albert K. Owen." Two pages of one edition (vol. 4, no. 24, September 1, 1889, whole no. 161), has been preserved at Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland, Ohio, pasted into a Wallace Cathcart scrapbook on Shakers. Those two pages include an article on the [[Tyringham, Massachusetts]] [[Shakers]] and correspondence from several prospective members. Evidently the fledgling group hoped to use the reminiscences of Julia Johnson, a former Shaker, to market the concept of a communal society to prospective members.<ref>[Julia H. Johnson], “Reminiscences of Shaker Life,” ''The Credit Foncier of Sinaloa [Mexico]'', 4.24 (September 1, 1889), clipping in Wallace H. Cathcart scrapbook on Shakers (1811-1912), Western Reserve Historical Society XIII: 47. The library of the University of Kansas has more issues of this publication, and several universities own it in microform.</ref>
The colony quickly found difficulties. Every enterprise failed, and soon the colonists found themselves without food or clean water. Things became so bad that in 1888 the U.S. Navy was compelled to send ''[[USS Iroquois (1859)|USS Iroquois]]'' to evacuate the survivors. None accepted the offer. Only in 1962 was the railroad connecting the colony with the U.S. completed. In 1967, ''[[The San Diego Union]]'' reported 500 families forming the core of the modern city of Topolobampo.<ref>Topolobampo: Where Utopia Failed, page G3, May 14, 1967, by Frederick C. Whitney, Copley News Service</ref>
== Geography == === Climate ===
Topolobampo has a tropical arid desert climate.
<div style="width:80%"> {{Weather box |location = Topolobampo (1951–2010) |single line = Yes |metric first = Yes |Jan record high C = 39.0 |Feb record high C = 39.0 |Mar record high C = 38.0 |Apr record high C = 38.0 |May record high C = 39.0 |Jun record high C = 40.0 |Jul record high C = 41.0 |Aug record high C = 43.5 |Sep record high C = 41.0 |Oct record high C = 43.0 |Nov record high C = 38.5 |Dec record high C = 37.0 |year record high C = 43.5 |Jan high C = 24.8 |Feb high C = 25.8 |Mar high C = 27.5 |Apr high C = 29.6 |May high C = 32.0 |Jun high C = 34.1 |Jul high C = 35.0 |Aug high C = 34.8 |Sep high C = 34.2 |Oct high C = 32.9 |Nov high C = 29.3 |Dec high C = 25.6 |year high C = 30.5 |Jan mean C = 19.2 |Feb mean C = 20.1 |Mar mean C = 21.7 |Apr mean C = 23.9 |May mean C = 26.5 |Jun mean C = 29.5 |Jul mean C = 30.6 |Aug mean C = 30.4 |Sep mean C = 29.9 |Oct mean C = 28.1 |Nov mean C = 24.0 |Dec mean C = 20.4 |year mean C = 25.4 |Jan low C = 13.7 |Feb low C = 14.4 |Mar low C = 16.0 |Apr low C = 18.2 |May low C = 21.0 |Jun low C = 24.9 |Jul low C = 26.2 |Aug low C = 25.9 |Sep low C = 25.6 |Oct low C = 23.3 |Nov low C = 18.7 |Dec low C = 15.2 |year low C = 20.3 |Jan record low C = 5.0 |Feb record low C = 8.0 |Mar record low C = 9.0 |Apr record low C = 11.0 |May record low C = 12.0 |Jun record low C = 17.0 |Jul record low C = 20.0 |Aug record low C = 18.0 |Sep record low C = 15.0 |Oct record low C = 14.0 |Nov record low C = 11.0 |Dec record low C = 5.5 |year record low C = 5.0 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 12.1 |Feb precipitation mm = 3.8 |Mar precipitation mm = 0.6 |Apr precipitation mm = 0.0 |May precipitation mm = 0.8 |Jun precipitation mm = 1.9 |Jul precipitation mm = 57.7 |Aug precipitation mm = 96.1 |Sep precipitation mm = 66.6 |Oct precipitation mm = 31.9 |Nov precipitation mm = 19.0 |Dec precipitation mm = 22.1 |year precipitation mm = 312.6 |unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm |Jan precipitation days = 1.3 |Feb precipitation days = 0.7 |Mar precipitation days = 0.2 |Apr precipitation days = 0.0 |May precipitation days = 0.1 |Jun precipitation days = 0.2 |Jul precipitation days = 3.8 |Aug precipitation days = 5.4 |Sep precipitation days = 3.9 |Oct precipitation days = 1.9 |Nov precipitation days = 1.1 |Dec precipitation days = 1.4 |year precipitation days = 20.0 |source 1 = Servicio Meteorologico Nacional<ref name = SMN > {{cite web | url= http://smn.cna.gob.mx/climatologia/Normales5110/NORMAL25008.TXT | title = Estado de Sinaloa-Estacion: Topolobampo (SMN) | work = Normales Climatologicas 1951–2010 | language = Spanish | publisher = Servicio Meteorologico Nacional | accessdate = 20 April 2015}}</ref><ref name = extremas>{{cite web | url = http://smn.cna.gob.mx/climatologia/Max-Extr/00025/00025008.TXT | title = Extreme Temperatures and Precipitation for Topolobampo 1962–2000 | publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional | language = Spanish | accessdate = 20 April 2015}}</ref> }}
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The sea experiences lows of 19 - 20 °C during the winter months, and highs of 29 - 31 °C during the summer months.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seatemperature.org/central-america/mexico/topolobampo-january.htm|title=Topolobampo Sea Temperature January Average, Mexico Water Temperatures|author=Copyright Global Sea Temperatures - A-Connect Ltd|work=World Sea Temperatures}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable" |+Average Sea Temperature |- !'''Jan''' !'''Feb''' !'''Mar''' !'''Apr''' !'''May''' !'''Jun''' !'''Jul''' !'''Aug''' !'''Sep''' !'''Oct''' !'''Nov''' !'''Dec''' |- |20 °C 68 °F |19 °C 66 °F |20 °C 68 °F |22 °C 72 °F |25 °C 77 °F |27 °C 81 °F |29 °C 85 °F |31 °C 88 °F |31 °C 88 °F |29 °C 84 °F |25 °C 77 °F |21 °C 70 °F |}
==See also== * [[:Category:Naval battles of the Mexican Revolution|Naval battles of the Mexican Revolution]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120818022313/http://www.apitopo.com.mx/ Administración Portuaria Integral de Topolobampo] {{in lang|es}} * [http://www.ttt.com.mx/ Terminal Transoceánica de Topolobampo] {{in lang|es}} * [http://www.ahome.gob.mx/ Municipio de Ahome] {{in lang|es}} Official website of Municipality of Ahome *[http://libraries.ucsd.edu/speccoll/findingaids/mss0106.html Topolobampo Collection] MSS 106. [http://libraries.ucsd.edu/collections/sca/ Special Collections & Archives], UC San Diego Library.
{{Sinaloa}} {{Authority control}}
{{commons category}}
[[Category:Populated places in Sinaloa]] [[Category:Port cities and towns on the Mexican Pacific coast]]