The first inhabitants were Pima Alto or Nebome Indians, who before conversion had led a nomadic or semi-nomadic life.

[citation needed] It is said that Atil means "Arrow Point", in the Pima language.

[4] The name of the mission was changed to San Francisco de Átil when the Franciscans arrived in 1768.

There is one tarmacked road crossing the municipality linking Altar with Tubutama.

The economy is based primarily on agriculture with lands irrigated by the Cuauhtémoc Reservoir located in the north of the municipality.