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El Paso, Texas

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El Paso is a major city located in West Texas, United States.

Mesa Avenue, the heart of El Paso, Texas
Mesa Avenue, the heart of El Paso, Texas

It serves as the county seat for El Paso County. The city is quite large and holds significant regional importance. It is the 22nd-most populous city in the entire United States. Within Texas, it ranks as the sixth-most populous city. In the West Texas region, it is the most populous city. According to the 2020 census, the city had 678,815 residents. The broader El Paso metropolitan area includes about 879,000 people.

The city sits directly on the Rio Grande river.

Rio Grande EP Upper Valley
Rio Grande EP Upper Valley

This river forms the international border between the United States and Mexico. Directly across the water lies Ciudad Juárez. This is the most populous city in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Together, these cities form a massive international metropolitan area. Some people call this region the Paso del Norte or the Borderplex. This region contains 2.7 million people. It holds the largest bilingual and binational workforce in the Western Hemisphere.

Mesa Avenue, the heart of El Paso, Texas
Mesa Avenue, the heart of El Paso, Texas

El Paso is a center for education, medicine, and industry. It is home to the University of Texas at El Paso. The city also features the Medical Center of the Americas. This is the only medical research and care provider complex in West Texas. The city hosts three publicly traded companies. It is also a major hub for manufacturing and retail. The city has a strong federal and military presence. Large installations like Fort Bliss are located here. Other sites include Biggs Army Airfield and the William Beaumont Army Medical Center.

Engineering building area
Engineering building area

The history of this region spans many thousands of years.

Hueco Tanks Bouldering
Hueco Tanks Bouldering

Evidence like Folsom points suggests human habitation for 10,000 to 12,000 years. Early inhabitants were maize farmers who grew corn. Later, various tribes like the Manso, Suma, and Jumano lived there. Spanish explorers also traveled through this land. In 1598, Don Juan de Oñate stayed by the Rio Grande. He celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass there on April 30. In 1659, Fray Garcia de San Francisco founded El Paso del Norte on the south bank.

YsletaMission
YsletaMission

Political changes shaped the modern borders of the city. During the mid-1800s, the region was a site of negotiation. The Mexican–American War took place in this area. The Battle of El Bracito occurred on Christmas Day in 1846. Later, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo changed the border. It placed the north bank settlements in the United States. The Compromise of 1850 eventually set the current boundary. This boundary placed El Paso on the Texas side. The U.S. Senate used the 32nd parallel to draw this line.

Old map-El Paso-1886
Old map-El Paso-1886

El Paso experienced rapid growth due to the arrival of railroads. In 1881, several major railroads arrived in the area. This caused the population to boom to 10,000 by the 1890 census. During this era, the city was known as the "Six-shooter Capital." It was considered a wild and lawless boomtown. Gambling and other vices were very common during this time. However, the city changed significantly during the 20th century. It moved away from being a wild town toward becoming a stable center. It has since won the All-America City Award five times.

El Paso Downtown 1908
El Paso Downtown 1908

Today, the city is known for its unique cultural identity. It is the second-largest absolute-majority-Hispanic city in the United States. About 81% of the residents are Hispanic. It is the largest U.S. city to have a Hispanic majority throughout its history. The city also hosts the annual Sun Bowl.

UTEP Sun Bowl Stadium Aerial View Sept 6 2009
UTEP Sun Bowl Stadium Aerial View Sept 6 2009

This is a college football postseason game. It is the second-oldest bowl game in the country. The landscape is also defined by the Franklin Mountains.

Franklin Mountain Snow
Franklin Mountain Snow

These mountains provide a beautiful backdrop to the urban area.

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🖼️ Images & Media (50)
File:Franklin (El Paso), Texas.jpg
Franklin (El Paso), Texas.jpg
File:El Paso c1880.jpg
El Paso c1880.jpg
File:Old map-El Paso-1886.jpg
Old map-El Paso-1886.jpg
File:El Paso Downtown 1908.jpg
El Paso Downtown 1908.jpg
File:El_Paso_Electric_Railway_travels_from_Smelter_town_in_1912.jpg
El_Paso_Electric_Railway_travels_from_Smel...
File:Mesa Avenue, the heart of El Paso, Texas.jpg
Mesa Avenue, the heart of El Paso, Texas.jpg
File:Camping on the Border, near El Paso, Texas.jpg
Camping on the Border, near El Paso, Texas.jpg
File:El Paso, Texas.jpg
El Paso, Texas.jpg
File:Wells Fargo building1.jpeg
Wells Fargo building1.jpeg
File:El Paso Star at Sunset.jpg
El Paso Star at Sunset.jpg
File:El Paso's Upper Valley.jpeg
El Paso's Upper Valley.jpeg
File:Madeline_Park_Kern_Place.jpg
Madeline_Park_Kern_Place.jpg

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