Bachíniva is a town and county located in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It serves as the administrative seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name. The area is situated along the fertile lands of the Santa Maria River, which has historically supported various agricultural activities.
Founded by Franciscan missionaries on September 8, 1660, as Santa María de Nativitas Bachiniva, the town originated from a mission established for the local Rarámuri people. The name Bachíniva is derived from a Rarámuri word meaning "the place of the wild pumpkin flower." While many natives left the area to avoid evangelization, others converted, leading to the construction of a church that remains standing today.
The region became a settlement for Spanish immigrants and migrants from southern Mexico who utilized the land for farming. In the late 1600s, missionaries introduced the first apple trees to the area. Today, apple production serves as the primary economic activity of the Bachíniva municipality, alongside the cultivation of other fruits and agricultural products.