El Paso

El Paso sits at the foot of the Franklin Mountains along the Rio Grande, connecting the United States with Mexico through multiple international bridges. The city spreads across dry desert terrain where low buildings stand beside modern high-rises in the center.

Spanish colonizers established Mission Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in 1659, marking the start of European settlement at this strategic crossing point. Railroad construction in the 1880s transformed the settlement into a growing trade town that drew people from both countries.

Spanish echoes through markets and restaurants where menus merge dishes from both sides of the border. Local festivals like the Mexican Independence Day celebration draw thousands who dance in the streets and listen to traditional music.

The sun shines intensely year-round, especially in summer when shade and water become essential. Main roads run in clear patterns with the mountains to the north serving as a natural landmark for orientation.

The campus buildings of the University of Texas at El Paso follow Tibetan architecture patterns, modeled after the Potala Palace in Lhasa. This unusual choice came about by chance when an architect in the 1910s found a magazine with pictures from Tibet and drew inspiration from them.

Location: El Paso County

Inception: 1680

Elevation above the sea: 1,140 m

Part of: Mexico–United States border

Website: https://elpasotexas.gov

GPS coordinates: 31.75917,-106.48861

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:50