Chinese pioneers made this section their home for years. It was a city within a city whose residents were isolated from surrounding neighbors by barriers of language, custom, and religion. Originally known as the “Tigre,” the area long had a somber reputation for fondas and fandango houses that catered to Sonora’s rougher element. In the 1860’s, the Tigre began to assume an Oriental character and during the next century became known as Chinatown.