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El Paso Information

Central El Paso
Central El Paso forms the heart of the city, containing historic neighborhoods and architectural gems, as well as a street grid that makes neighborhood and freeway access convenient. It's no more than 20 minutes to any part of town.

The area is diverse, including the city's earliest suburban development as well as its urban core, Downtown. This area offers a diverse selection of residential living arrangements; thus the neighborhoods themselves are also very diverse.

The Kern Place neighborhood near UTEP boasts fine architecture and parks, galleries and restaurants. Downtown is the gateway to Juarez. The area includes the Arts Festival Plaza, City of El Paso Museum of Art, and Civic Center. The area also includes Sunset Heights, near The University of Texas at El Paso, and Scenic Drive, which overlooks Downtown El Paso and Juarez. The central El Paso area also encompasses Fort Bliss, the El Paso International Airport, and two major highways, the Patriot Freeway (north/south) and Interstate 10 (east/west). Near Fort Bliss, portions of Dyer and some off streets boast excellent Thai, Korean, Chinese and other world-wide cooking styles.

Several major streets radiate through and out of Central. Mesa heads north from Downtown to the West Side; Alameda runs east from Downtown to the Lower Valley; Montana is just north of Downtown, and runs to the East Side. Don't miss El Paso eateries like H&H Car Wash on Montana, which has been written up in numerous food magazines.

West El Paso
West El Paso has exploded in the last 10 years. Along with that growth has meant more traffic and strip malls. The area is not known for its architecture, but it has plenty of restaurants and things to do. Sunland Park mall and its nearby retail establishments provide convenient shopping to the areaC-s residents.

While there are not as many parks as other parts of El Paso, there are many quiet neighborhoods for middle and upper income residents. Furthermore, it is 15 minutes to downtown, only 20 minutes to the airport, and has easy access to I-10, the major highway in El Paso. It is served by two high schools, the relatively new Franklin and Coronado.

East El Paso
Business is prospering in East El Paso, with many new neighborhoods occupied mostly by middle and upper income residents. This is an attractive area of town for the executives employed by the maquilas manufacturing facilities in Juarez, as the access to the border is convenient. The area also offers easy access to two large shopping malls, conveniently located off the Interstate.

The east side of El Paso is the largest part of the city, and it continues to expand eastward. What was a vast desert now features attractions such as Tinseltown, the largest movie theater in town, and the Tigual Indian Cultural Center, owned and operated by the Tigua Indians. The the cultural center includes Speaking Rock Casino,with slot machines, Black Jack, Poker, and Bingo, entertainment, as well as fine dining and the Spirit Garden. Other eastside activities include the El Paso Zoo, the El Paso Coliseum, Western Playland Amusement Park, and the Socorro Athletics and Aquatics Centers.

A great place for families to gather is the Chamizal National Memorial. The park was established to commemorate this peaceful settlement, which was an end to a century-long boundary dispute between the United States and Mexico in 1963.

Most places in East El Paso are 15 minutes to downtown, although expansion has made the outer parts a 25-minute drive. Since the airport is on the Eastside, the hardest part of getting there is the traffic.

Northeast El Paso
Northeast El Paso is almost a city in and of itself, with the recent additions of a multi-plex movie theater and several shopping centers. Many residents of the area have lived there for generations, and say they wouldn't trade it for any other part of the city.

One reason for its appeal is the beautiful view of the Franklin Mountains. Area residents feel strongly that they have the best view of the mountain that is known to turn shades of purple and pink at sunrise. The Wilderness Park Museum is located on Transmountain road, featuring trail walks and information about the diverse flora and fauna of the area. Residents of Northeast El Paso are particularly proud of the annual blooming of the poppies that cover the mountainside in the Spring.

The U.S. Army base, Ft. Bliss, has brought many families to the area on a temporary basis, but many have elected to stay in the area, creating a diverse community made up of retired military personnel and young families, as well as many Germans, Asian, African-American, and Hispanic families.

The area also boasts Cohen Stadium, home to the minor league baseball team, the El Paso Diablos. With tickets starting at $5, a family can spend the afternoon at the stadium with hot dogs, drinks, and souvenirs for less that $50.

The Northeast high schools are Andress, Irvin and the private school Bethel Temple.

Business is expanding in the Northeast El Paso, although residents still need to travel into the El Paso metro area to gain access to major shopping malls or business center. The airport and downtown El Paso are about twenty minutes from the Northeast.

Lower Valley
El Paso's Lower Valley is a mix of urban and rural, industrial and pastoral, with one international crossing, a mix of historic missions and tourist attractions, and several large parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

The lower valley forms a large part of El Paso's agricultural heritage, and still contains cotton farms and pecan groves. A large part of the valley is within the city limits, and as it extends east past those boundaries it maintains an rustic, rural feel. Numerous mom and pop restaurants line Alameda, the major east-west artery; the street is mostly retail-oriented, with some residential. Most people live in the streets off Alameda, which extend into quiet, tree-filled neighborhoods.

Alameda runs east to the Ysleta Pueblo, the Tigua Indian reservation that forms a large part of the Lower Valley's culture. The Tiguas own and operate Speaking Rock Casino, a regional tourist draw, and Wyngs Restaurant. The Mission Trail, which includes the towns of Socorro and San Elizario, forms another major attraction. Some of the missions date back 400 years, to the beginnings of European exploration of North America. The Lower Valley also has two wildlife preserves K Rio Bosque and Feather Lake.

Upper Valley
El Paso's Upper Valley is a retreat from the baking sun and desert sands that cover the rest of the city. This shady, and comparatively lush, riverside oasis is notable for its larger estates and country lifestyle.

Its distance from the rest of El Paso - 20 minutes from downtown and 30 minutes from the airport - may contribute to its laid-back country manner. Doniphan, which is the main strip bordering the east side of the Upper Valley, has plenty of amenities including grocery stores, bar-b-que joints and outdoor patio bars. The El Paso Country Club and Santa Teresa Golf Club, along with the Sunland Park Race Track, are just some of the more popular recreational opportunities available. The neighborhood is served by Coronado and Franklin high schools (10- to 15-minute drive) and five elementary schools.

Although lacking in total park acreage, the Upper Valley has some beautiful riverfront bike and running paths that attract enthusiasts from around the city. The Keystone Site, a 5,000-year old archaeological treasure situated on a river-fed bosque, provides breathtaking nature theater, starring the millions of migrating birds who make this a stopping point during their travels up the Rio Grande valley.

East El Paso County
Outside the city limits of El Paso and within the County of El Paso are the towns of Tornillo, Socorro, San Elizario, Clint and Fabens. These are mostly farming communities with a rich history dating back hundreds of years.

Twenty years before the Pilgrims ate their famous meal in Plymouth, Spanish explorer Don Juan de OCate and his troupe crossed through San Elizario and celebrated the First Thanksgiving in the United States. The Mission Trail runs through three of the oldest continually active missions in the United States. The Ysleta Mission, Presidio Chapel San Elizario and the Socorro Mission are great visits for locals and tourists alike.

Area residents enjoy the historical perspective, but cite tranquility as the main reason for choosing East El Paso County. Hueco Tanks State Historical Park speaks to that lifestyle. The park is named for the large natural rock basins that make for world-class rock climbing, as well as hiking, picnicking and camping.

Each town in East El Paso County has its own school district with a high school, and each district boasts a diverse student body. Socorro Independent School District has been nationally recognized for its bilingual and special education programs.

East El Paso County is remote enough to have a down-home feel to it, but it is within driving distance of the resources available in the bigger city of El Paso. Downtown El Paso is a 35 to 40 minute drive from this area; the airport is 25 to 30 minutes away.

Horizon City
Located three miles east of the El Paso city limits on Interstate 10, Horizon City is a residential community of about 5,800 and about five square miles in area. Horizon City was a popular retirement area in the 1970's but recently younger families have been moving to the community in increasing numbers. The town was incorporated in 1988 and has established its own town council and several public facilities.

Horizon City is a young town just beginning to attract retail businesses. The town features two new shopping centers and a supermarket, as well as the popular Emerald Springs Golf & Conference Center. A senior center, two elementary schools, and a middle school also serve the area. The West Texas Airport is just North of the city, catering to small charter planes.

Links

City of El Paso
Official city website offering helpful information relating to El Paso's municipal government, including city news, calendar of events, and city services.

El Paso County Government

El Paso History
El Paso County's Texas Genealogy Project webpage dedicated to providing historical information, including 1600 Beginnings, History, Places, Records, Research, State, etc.

El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau
Information on Convention Planning, Services, Schedules, Tour Information & Ground Transportation, including information on Performing Arts Centers and Theatres, and Ticket Master may be found here.

El Paso Chamber of Commerce
The Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, the primary advocate for El PasoC-s business community, is dedicated to building a strong economy and improving the quality of life in our regional, bi-national community.

Hispanic Chamber or Commerce
The mission of the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is to be the leading advocate in promoting success of El Paso small businesses by providing resources, information and education.

City of El Paso Police Department

El Paso Diablos
Get in on the excitement of Diablos baseball. Site featurs message board for fans and option to order tickets online.

El Paso Schools
Information regarding El Paso (District 19) schools including phone directory and links to schools' websites.

State of Texas Online
Official State of Texas website featuring information on state laws, pertmits, online services, etc.

University of Texas at El Paso
Since its founding in 1914, the University of Texas at El Paso has been a leader in higher education. In 1966, UTEP –then named Texas Western College – changed the face of collegiate athletics. An upstart squad of five African-American players beat Kentucky to win the NCAA basketball championship, breaking color barriers in college sports. Today, UTEP is changing the face of higher education. UTEP is the only major research university in the country whose students are predominantly Mexican-American. As Hispanics become the largest minority group, the university is winning national recognition for its innovative teaching methods and programs designed to help students succeed. In 1914, we were El Paso’s future. We still are. Now we’re the future of Texas and the nation, too.

UTEP Athletics
University of Texas at El Paso sports.