El Paso

El Paso, Texas 

El Paso is a city in far western Texas and the county seat of El Paso since 1850. It is situated on the Rio Grande, close to the border with New Mexico, where a bridge connects to Juárez, Mexico. The biggest border city between the United States and Mexico, it is situated below a small pass where the Rio Grande emerges from the bare southernmost spurs of the Rocky Mountains at a height of 3,762 feet (1,147 meters) at the foot of the Franklin Mountains. 

Juan de Oate, who colonized New Mexico, first identified the important location in 1598 and gave it the Spanish name El Paso del Norte (literally, "The Pass of the North"). In 1659, Franciscans founded the Mission Nuestra Seora de Guadalupe; the original church still exists in Juárez's main square. There, Spanish Pueblo Revolt survivors (1680–92) found safety, and other missions were erected nearby, including one at Ysleta, the site of the oldest settlement in Texas (now in El Paso). Five thousand people lived in a collection of hamlets and farms that made up the settlement in 1776. The current location of El Paso did not have a village on the river's north bank until around 1827. When an army station was established there in 1848, it became U.S. territory (commemorated by the Fort Bliss Replica Museum). 

The Butterfield Stage Route to California passed through the town, which was planned in 1859. Up until the arrival of four railways in 1881, it expanded slowly; by 1890, its population had more than multiplied by ten, reaching 10,338. Border disputes arose in the 1860s as a result of the Rio Grande's bends to the south; the first Mexican claims to El Chamizal, a piece of territory on the Texas side, were made in 1895. The 55-acre (22-hectare) Chamizal National Memorial, which honors the disagreement over the realignment of the river's channel, was finally settled in 1963. (1968). 

The city is distinguished for its Spanish language and culture. El Paso is clearly a Mexican city due to its historic adobe structures, although it appears to be a modern American city overall. It serves as the commercial and financial hub for a vast trading area where the production of minerals, irrigated cotton growing, and animal grazing are the main economic drivers. With a focus on primary metals, oil and gas operations, food goods, and clothing, El Paso has a highly diverse industrial structure. A sizeable amount of the nation's copper is processed at its copper-lead custom smelter and electrolytic copper refinery. El Paso's economy is boosted by Fort Bliss, the William Beaumont General Hospital, and the nearby White Sands Missile Range (in New Mexico). Fort Bliss is the location of the U.S. Army Air Defense Center. 

It is a point of entry, a significant transcontinental crossroads for international trade, and it is served by both Mexican and American railroads. It serves as a tourist entry point to Juárez, Mexico's interior, and scenic regions of the United States. Visitors love the downtown area of El Paso because of its narrow streets and restored adobe structures that hold restaurants and businesses. The El Paso Museum of Art and the El Paso Museum of History are two of the city's attractions (1974; originally the El Paso Cavalry Museum). In 1913, the Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy was the precursor to the University of Texas at El Paso. The Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, served as the inspiration for a few of its original structures. The Sun Bowl, which coincides with an annual playoff college football game, is sponsored by the institution. In 1969, El Paso Community College was opened. Inc. 1873. El Paso Metro Area (2010): 800,647; Pop. (2010): 6491; Pop. (2020): 678 815; El Paso Metro Area (2010): 868 859. 

Geography 

El Paso is situated at the confluence of three states (Texas, New Mexico, and Chihuahua) and two nations (Mexico and the U.S.). The only significant Texas city in the Mountain Time Zone is this one. Previously located in the Central Time Zone, Ciudad Juarez is currently on Mountain Time. 

On the border between Mexico and the United States is El Paso. 

El Paso is located farther from the capital cities of four other states than it is from Austin, which is located in its own state. Phoenix, Arizona is 430 miles (690 km) away, followed by Santa Fe, New Mexico (273 miles (439 km), Ciudad Chihuahua, Chihuahua, and Hermosillo, Sonora (325 miles (523 km). The easternmost town in the same state as this one, Orange, Texas, is 858 miles (1,381 km) away from this city, while Los Angeles, California is just 700 miles (1,100 km) away. 

El Paso is situated in the easternmost region of the Basin and Range Region, the Chihuahuan Desert. The Franklin Mountains, which extend into El Paso from the north, almost split the city in half; the east side grows into the desert and lower valley, while the west side forms the Mesilla Valley's beginnings. At the southernmost point of the mountain range, they come together at the central business district. 

The elevation of the city is 3,740 feet (1,140 meters) above sea level. The highest point in the city is North Franklin Mountain, which rises 7,192 feet (2,192 meters) above sea level. All directions within 60 miles (100 km) may view the top. Additionally, the Thunderbird, a well-known natural red-clay feature that gave rise to the name of the neighborhood Coronado High School's mascot, is located inside this mountain range. The area of the city overall, according to the United States Census Bureau, is 256.3 square miles (663.7 km2). 

Along with Fort Bliss and El Paso International Airport, the 24,000-acre (9,700 ha) Franklin Mountains State Park is located fully within the city limits of El Paso. It is one of the country's largest urban parks. 

The Rio Grande flows through the Rio Grande Rift, which skirts the Franklin Mountains' southernmost point. The river divides El Paso from Ciudad Juárez to the south and west before turning north of the Mexican border to divide El Paso from Doa Ana County, New Mexico. On the New Mexico side of the Rio Grande, approximately west of El Paso, Mt. Cristo Rey rises as a pluton within the Rio Grande Rift. Kilbourne Hole and Hunt's Hole, Maar volcanic craters located 30 miles (50 km) west of the Franklin Mountains, are two nearby volcanic landforms. 

Climate 

El Paso experiences a climate that is in between a cold desert climate (Köppen BWk) and a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh), with hot summers and little humidity, and chilly to mild dry winters. The North American Monsoon is primarily responsible for the region's annual average rainfall of 8.8 inches (220 mm), most of which falls from June through September. Southerly and southeasterly winds blow during this time, bringing moisture from the Pacific, the Gulf of California, and the Gulf of Mexico into the area. When this moisture enters the El Paso region and other southwest-facing locations, orographic lift from the mountains combined with intense daytime heating results in thunderstorms, some of which are severe enough to create flash flooding and hail over the region. 

According to the National Weather Service, El Paso experiences sunshiny weather 83% of the time, or 302 days each year on average. This is why the city is known as "The Sun City." 

El Paso frequently sees sand and dust storms throughout the dry season because of its dry, windy climate, especially in the spring between late March and early May. These wind storms, with an average wind speed that frequently exceeds 30 mph (50 km/h) and gusts that have been recorded at over 75 mph (120 km/h), cause loss of visibility by kicking up significant quantities of sand and dust from the desert. 

Snowfall is also experienced in the mountains close to El Paso. On various occasions, weather systems have brought about more than 1 foot (30 cm) of snowfall. Three significant snowstorms during the winter of 1982–1983 resulted in a record amount of snowfall for the season. A white Christmas was experienced by the city on December 25 and 26, 1982, when 6.0 in (15 cm) of snow fell. On December 30 and 31, 1982, an additional 7.0 in (18 cm) fell after that. El Paso experienced 16.5 in (42 cm) of snowfall between April 4 and 7, 1983, pushing the city's seasonal total to almost 30 in (76 cm). A record storm poured more than 22 inches (56 cm) of snow on El Paso on December 13–14 of that year. Two weeks later, on December 25–26, another 3 inches (7.6 cm) of snow fell, bringing the monthly total for December 1987 to an all-time record high of 25.9 inches (66 cm)of snow.  The airport receives 2.6 inches (6.6 cm) of snow annually on average, but the average yearly snowfall throughout the city varies greatly across different neighborhoods at different elevations (but with a median of 0, meaning most years see no snow at all).  The areas around Ysleta and the eastern valley, where there are typically many palm trees, are where snow is most uncommon. In the upper neighborhoods, palm trees are more susceptible to snow and cold snaps and are frequently observed with brown, frost-damaged fronds. 

The destructive winter storm that hit El Paso in early February 2011 and forced the closure of City Hall, businesses, and schools is one instance of the city's variable climate at its most extreme. After roughly a day, the light snow ended, but the subsequent cold snap caused municipal utilities to have a crisis. The lowest daily maximum ever recorded occurred on February 2, 2011, when the high temperature was 15 °F (9 °C). In addition, the low temperature on February 3 was 1 °F (17 °C), beating the previous record low low temperature for a month of 5 °F (15 °C) set during the cold snap of 1899. One effect of the cold weather was the loss of desert plants including iceplants, oleanders, and Mexican/California palm trees. Electric cables were destroyed, resulting in localized blackouts, and two local power plants failed, leading El Paso Electric to implement rolling blackouts over many days. A significant number of water utility pipes froze, leaving certain parts of the city without water for many days. 

The average monthly temperature ranges from 46.1 °F (7.8 °C) in December to 84.4 °F (29.1 °C) in July, however high temperatures typically peak in June before the monsoon, while daily low temperatures typically peak in July or early August with the higher humidity the monsoon brings (translating to warmer nights). Throughout the year, there are typically 118 days with highs of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher and 28 days with highs of 100 °F (38 °C) or higher. Only very infrequently do temperatures remain below freezing throughout the day. The city's record high is 114 °F (46 °C) on June 30, 1994, while its record low is 8 °F (22 °C) on January 11, 1962. The National Weather Service has been keeping weather data for the area since 1879, and the highest daily minimum was 85 °F (29 °C) between July 1 and 3, 1994. 

Demographics 

El Paso experiences a climate that is in between a cold desert climate (Köppen BWk) and a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh), with hot summers and little humidity, and chilly to mild dry winters. The North American Monsoon is primarily responsible for the region's annual average rainfall of 8.8 inches (220 mm), most of which falls from June through September. Southerly and southeasterly winds blow during this time, bringing moisture from the Pacific, the Gulf of California, and the Gulf of Mexico into the area. When this moisture enters the El Paso region and other southwest-facing locations, orographic lift from the mountains combined with intense daytime heating results in thunderstorms, some of which are severe enough to create flash flooding and hail over the region. 

According to the National Weather Service, El Paso experiences sunshiny weather 83% of the time, or 302 days each year on average. This is why the city is known as "The Sun City." 

El Paso frequently sees sand and dust storms throughout the dry season because of its dry, windy climate, especially in the spring between late March and early May. These wind storms, with an average wind speed that frequently exceeds 30 mph (50 km/h) and gusts that have been recorded at over 75 mph (120 km/h), cause loss of visibility by kicking up significant quantities of sand and dust from the desert. 

Snowfall is also experienced in the mountains close to El Paso. On various occasions, weather systems have brought about more than 1 foot (30 cm) of snowfall. Three significant snowstorms during the winter of 1982–1983 resulted in a record amount of snowfall for the season. A white Christmas was experienced by the city on December 25 and 26, 1982, when 6.0 in (15 cm) of snow fell. On December 30 and 31, 1982, an additional 7.0 in (18 cm) fell after that. El Paso experienced 16.5 in (42 cm) of snowfall between April 4 and 7, 1983, pushing the city's seasonal total to almost 30 in (76 cm). A record storm poured more than 22 inches (56 cm) of snow on El Paso on December 13–14 of that year. Two weeks later, on December 25–26, another 3 inches (7.6 cm) of snow fell, bringing the monthly total for December 1987 to an all-time record high of 25.9 inches (66 cm) of snow.  The airport receives 2.6 inches (6.6 cm) of snow annually on average, but the average yearly snowfall throughout the city varies greatly across different neighborhoods at different elevations (but with a median of 0, meaning most years see no snow at all).  The areas around Ysleta and the eastern valley, where there are typically many palm trees, are where snow is most uncommon. In the upper neighborhoods, palm trees are more susceptible to snow and cold snaps and are frequently observed with brown, frost-damaged fronds. 

The destructive winter storm that hit El Paso in early February 2011 and forced the closure of City Hall, businesses, and schools is one instance of the city's variable climate at its most extreme. After roughly a day, the light snow ended, but the subsequent cold snap caused municipal utilities to have a crisis. The lowest daily maximum ever recorded occurred on February 2, 2011, when the high temperature was 15 °F (9 °C). In addition, the low temperature on February 3 was 1 °F (17 °C), beating the previous record low low temperature for a month of 5 °F (15 °C) set during the cold snap of 1899. One effect of the cold weather was the loss of desert plants including iceplants, oleanders, and Mexican/California palm trees. Electric cables were destroyed, resulting in localized blackouts, and two local power plants failed, leading El Paso Electric to implement rolling blackouts over many days. A significant number of water utility pipes froze, leaving certain parts of the city without water for many days. 

The average monthly temperature ranges from 46.1 °F (7.8 °C) in December to 84.4 °F (29.1 °C) in July, however high temperatures typically peak in June before the monsoon, while daily low temperatures typically peak in July or early August with the higher humidity the monsoon brings (translating to warmer nights). Throughout the year, there are typically 118 days with highs of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher and 28 days with highs of 100 °F (38 °C) or higher. Only very infrequently do temperatures remain below freezing throughout the day. The city's record high is 114 °F (46 °C) on June 30, 1994, while its record low is 8 °F (22 °C) on January 11, 1962. The National Weather Service has been keeping weather data for the area since 1879, and the highest daily minimum was 85 °F (29 °C) between July 1 and 3, 1994. 

Sports 

The Sun Bowl, the second-oldest continuous collegiate football game, is held in El Paso (after the Rose Bowl). Its inaugural match took place in 1935. 

The El Paso Chihuahuas Triple-A team's (San Diego Padres affiliate) new home, Southwest University Park, opened in 2014 after the municipal council approved its destruction on September 18, 2012. Mountainstar Sports Group of El Paso bought the team. On April 14, 2013, City Hall was destroyed. 

Since 2007, the El Paso Marathon has been held yearly. The El Paso Locomotive soccer team debuted in the USL in 2019. At Southwest University Park, they perform. 

Education 

The Sun Bowl, the second-oldest continuous collegiate football game, is held in El Paso (after the Rose Bowl). Its inaugural match took place in 1935. 

The El Paso Chihuahuas Triple-A team's (San Diego Padres affiliate) new home, Southwest University Park, opened in 2014 after the municipal council approved its destruction on September 18, 2012. Mountainstar Sports Group of El Paso bought the team. On April 14, 2013, City Hall was destroyed. 

Since 2007, the El Paso Marathon has been held yearly. The El Paso Locomotive soccer team debuted in the USL in 2019. At Southwest University Park, they perform. 

Top 2 News Websites 

#1 El Paso Times 

Your go-to resource in El Paso for breaking news, sports, business, personals, and entertainment. 

#2 KVIA 

Where news is prioritized. Sports, weather, and news for El Paso and Las Cruces. 

Current City Mayor 

Oscar Leeser became the mayor on January 5, 2021. He will be out of office on January 7, 2025. He has previously presided over El Paso as mayor from 2013 until 2017. He ran for mayor again after taking a break from public life to address some personal health difficulties, winning with 80% of the vote. 

The mayor of El Paso, Mayor Leeser, was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, and immigrated to El Paso with his family when he was nine years old. He is currently spending his second term as Mayor in one of the most diverse and forward-thinking international border regions in the world, as well as being the owner and operator of the largest Hispanic Hyundai dealership in the country. He values management with a no-nonsense, business-like approach, ethics, transparency, and financial accountability.