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El Paso is located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in western Texas. Originally claimed in 1598 by Spain and settled in 1659 by Spanish colonists, it was named El Paso ("the crossing") after the route to the north. When owned by Mexico, what is now El Paso was part of a larger city that included Ciudad Juárez on the south bank of the Rio Grande. During the Mexican Revolution, Francisco "Pancho" Villa lived and organized his forces in El Paso. After the Mexican American war in 1848, El Paso passed into US hands, becoming a city in 1873, and soon after that, the stomping grounds for legendary figures Billy the Kidd, Wyatt Earp, and Pat Garrett.
Today, El Paso is the fifth-largest city (565,000) in Texas and one of the emerging Southwestern cities quickly joining the ranks of the country's new urban centers. The petroleum, mining and defense industries boost the city's strong economy, with US military installation Fort Bliss a leading employer. The city's history, Latin flavor ( nearly three-quarters of El Paso's population is Latin) and proximity to Mexico attract thousands of visitors each year. El Paso is among America's safest and most affordable cities.
The El Paso Centennial Museum on the UTEP campus, established to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the state, celebrates Texas history. Prehistoric drawings can be viewed 32 miles northeast of the city at Hueco Tanks State Historical Park, which is also a perfect place for hiking and rock climbing. Fort Bliss has 2 museums and hosts many annual events such as the Amigo Air Show, Oktoberfest, Showtime, USA and Armed Forces Day. Other historic sites and museums in the El Paso area include Magoffin Home State Historical Park, the Wilderness Park Museum, the Border Patrol Museum and the El Paso Museum of Art.
Cohen Stadium in northeast El Paso hosts minor league baseball home games of the El Paso Diablos, the AA affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. During the college football season, the University of Texas at El Paso perennially ranks among the best in the country. On New Year's Eve, college football's Sun Bowl attracts crowds of more than 40,000 to one of the premier events in the sport. The Sun Bowl also hosts the El Paso Patriots (USL) soccer games, providing affordable entertainment. Just 6 miles across the New Mexico border, Sunland Park, has horseracing from October through May. Within an hour's drive, New Mexico State University in Las Cruces offers more college sports.
The comfortably dry heat of the El Paso sun (temperatures averaging in the low 80s during the summer and above 40 in the winter) allows outdoor recreation throughout the year. El Paso has 7 public golf courses, including highly-acclaimed Painted Dunes. Across the New Mexico state border are several getaway spots allowing hiking, hunting and fishing. A 2-hour drive to Ruidoso will access horse racing, hunting and fishing, and mountains offering great skiing in the winter months.
El Paso has an energetic nightlife. Numerous bars and clubs can be found downtown and within walking distance across the Mexican border in Ciudad Juárez. A charming blend of American and Mexican cultures, the "Sun Capital of Texas" offers big-city attractions with a small-town flavor.
Comparing El Paso to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Texas (State):
Ratings range from 
(lowest) to 
(highest).
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Children Under 5 Years Old |  | |
| Female Share of the Population | |  |
| Racial Diversity | | |
| Senior Citizens |  |  |
| Age of the Population |  |  |
| Male Share of the Population | | |
| Well-Paid Single Men | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | | |
| Portion of People Married | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| College Educated Adults | |  |
| People Above Poverty | | |
| Median Family Income | | |
| People in Middle Class or Better | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Short Commute Times | |  |
| Public Transportation Use | | |
| Working at Home | | |
| Walking and Biking to Work | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability of Rents | | |
| Housing Recently Built | | |
| Seasonal and Vacation Housing | | |
| Affordability of Property Taxes | | |
| Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals | | |
| People Living Alone | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Low Property Crime | | |
| Low Violent Crime | | |
Detailed pages on related topics: El Paso colleges • El Paso travel • El Paso mortgages and property.
 | El Paso Careers El Paso career and employment information. |
 | El Paso Colleges El Paso colleges and trade schools. |
 | El Paso Hotels & Travel El Paso hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation. |
 | El Paso Mortgage El Paso property, mortgage, and real estate. |
We've crunched the numbers to create PlaceMatch™, which compares thousands of cities and towns to find the places most similar to each.
Select a photo to view (Source):
Mexican adobe house (Mt. Franklin in distance, El Paso) c1907
Mexican church at the smelter (El Paso) c1907
El Paso Street (El Paso) c1903.
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