[2] The Spanish colonial state established the town and surrounding region as a military colony, and its settlers received land grants in return for fighting Apache during the Apache Wars.

[4] Namiquipa was a stronghold of Pancho Villa’s popular movement during much of the Mexican Revolution of 1910–1920.

[6] In 1917 Namiquipa was attacked by Villa and his men, who reportedly raped many townswomen after setting the town ablaze.

[7] Villa's commander Nicolas Fernandez managed to take some of the townswomen under his protection, and ordered his soldiers to shoot any one who tried to attack them.

[8] After news of the atrocity spread, Villa lost the goodwill of many villagers across Chihuahua.