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El Paso, TX

Frequently asked questions

El Paso, TX

El Paso is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States. The 2020 population of the city from the U.S. Census Bureau was 678,815, making it the 22nd-most populous city in the U.S., the most populous city in West Texas, and the sixth-most populous city in Texas.  Its metropolitan statistical area covers all of El Paso and Hudspeth counties in Texas and had a population of 868,859 in 2020.

El Paso stands on the Rio Grande across the Mexico–United States border from Ciudad Juárez, the most populous city in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. The Las Cruces area, in the neighboring U.S. state of New Mexico, has a population of 219,561. On the U.S. side, the El Paso metropolitan area forms part of the larger El Paso–Las Cruces combined statistical area, which has a population of 1,098,541. These three cities form a combined international metropolitan area sometimes referred to as the Paso del Norte or the Borderplex. The region of 2.7 million people constitutes the largest bilingual and binational workforce in the Western Hemisphere.

El Paso is located at the intersection of three states (Chihuahua, New Mexico, and Texas) and two countries (Mexico and the U.S.). It is the only major Texas city in the Mountain Time Zone. Ciudad Juarez was once in the Central Time Zone, but both cities are now on Mountain Time. El Paso is closer to the capital cities of four other states: Phoenix, Arizona (430 miles (690 km) away); Santa Fe, New Mexico (273 miles (439 km) away); Ciudad Chihuahua, Chihuahua, (218 miles (351 km) away), and Hermosillo, Sonora (325 miles (523 km) away)—than it is to the capital of its state, Austin (528 miles (850 km) away). It is closer to Los Angeles, California (700 miles (1,100 km) away) than it is to Orange, Texas (858 miles (1,381 km) away), the easternmost town in the same state as this city.

El Paso is located within the Chihuahuan Desert, the easternmost section of the Basin and Range Region. The Franklin Mountains extend into El Paso from the north and nearly divide the city into two sections; the west side forms the beginnings of the Mesilla Valley, and the east side expands into the desert and lower valley. They connect in the central business district at the southern end of the mountain range.

The city's elevation is 3,740 ft (1,140 m) above sea level. North Franklin Mountain is the highest peak in the city at 7,192 ft (2,192 m) above sea level. The peak can be seen from 60 mi (100 km) in all directions. Additionally, this mountain range is home to the famous natural red-clay formation, the Thunderbird, from which the local Coronado High School gets its mascot's name. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 256.3 sq mi (663.7 km2).

The 24,000-acre (9,700 ha) Franklin Mountains State Park, one of the largest urban parks in the United States, lies entirely in El Paso, extending from the north and dividing the city into several sections along with Fort Bliss and El Paso International Airport.

The Rio Grande Rift, which passes around the southern end of the Franklin Mountains, is where the Rio Grande flows. The river defines the border between El Paso and Ciudad Juárez to the south and west until the river turns north of the border with Mexico, separating El Paso from Doña Ana County, New Mexico. Mt. Cristo Rey, an example of a pluton, rises within the Rio Grande Rift just to the west of El Paso on the New Mexico side of the Rio Grande. Nearby volcanic features include Kilbourne Hole and Hunt's Hole, which are Maar volcanic craters 30 miles (50 km) west of the Franklin Mountains.

On the 8th of November, 2023, a 5.3 magnitude Earthquake struck the El Paso region. The epicenter of the earthquake was 22 miles (35 kilometers) southwest of Mentone, according to the USGS.

Health and wellness are significant priorities in El Paso, with the city offering a variety of resources to promote a healthy lifestyle. The El Paso Department of Public Health plays a crucial role in ensuring the well-being of residents through public health programs and initiatives. The city boasts numerous parks and recreational spaces, such as Franklin Mountains State Park and Hueco Tanks State Park, providing opportunities for outdoor activities like hiking and rock climbing. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Kinective Fitness, Gold's Gym, and Hybrid Fitness. Additionally, the El Paso County Coliseum hosts various health and wellness events, contributing to the community's overall fitness and vitality.

Top sites in El Paso, TX are El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and Chamizal National Memorial.

Population: 681,723 (2024). ZIP codes: 79900–79999; 88500–88599 (PO boxes). Area code: 915. Elevation: 1,140 m. Area: 1,013.2 square miles.

FAQs

Is El Paso, TX a nice place to live?

El Paso is in El Paso County and is one of the best places to live in Texas. Living in El Paso offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In El Paso, there are a lot of parks. Many families and young professionals live in El Paso and residents tend to be liberal.

Is El Paso, TX expensive?

The cost of living in El Paso, TX is 5% lower than the state average and 12% lower than the national average. El Paso, TX housing is 29% cheaper than the U.S. average, while utilities are about 12% less pricey. When it comes to necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 6% less in El Paso, TX than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 6% less.

Is El Paso, TX safe?

The crime rate in El Paso is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 17 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in El Paso is 1 in 58. Based on FBI crime data, El Paso is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to Texas, El Paso has a crime rate that is higher than 69% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of El Paso 

El Paso Department of Public Health

Franklin Mountains State Park 

Hueco Tanks State Park

Kinective Fitness

Gold's Gym 

Hybrid Fitness

El Paso County Coliseum 

El Paso Museum of Art

El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Chamizal National Memorial

Niche

Rentcafe

Neighborhoodscout

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