Introduction

The county seat of El Paso County, El Paso is located on the far western edge of Texas on the north bank of the Rio Grande. At Mexico’s border, El Paso and its Mexican sister city, Ciudad Juárez (in Chihuahua, Mexico), have downtowns that are within walking distance from one another. The fertile valley and surrounding mountains of El Paso del Norte (the Pass of the North), christened by Don Juan de Oñate in 1598, was the first all-weather pass through the Rockies. El Paso is a major transportation hub and is known for its cutting-edge medical facilities, top educational institutions, year-round recreation, vibrant cultural and entertainment life, and favorable cost of living. El Paso boasts a diverse population, with a majority of its residents speaking both English and Spanish. El Paso attracts new residents with its favorable weather, tax rates, comparably low cost of living, and multiple educational opportunities. United States Army Air Defense Center, Fort Bliss, has made El Paso its home for nearly 150 years. The fourth (in 2005) largest city in Texas, El Paso is the 22nd largest city in the U.S. and the country’s third fastest-growing metropolitan area.