ABOUT THE CITY
El Paso is the seat of El Paso County and part of the American Southwest. It stands on the Rio Grande and across the border from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. The Franklin Mountains extend into El Paso from the north and nearly divide the city into two sections. It is the only major Texas city on Mountain Time.
Fort Bliss, a major United States Army installation, lies to the east and northeast of the city, extending north up to the White Sands Missile Range. More than 70 Fortune 500 companies call El Paso their home, including Hoover, Eureka, Boeing, and Delphi (auto parts).
With El Paso’s attractive climate and natural beauty, tourism has become a booming industry as well as trade with neighboring Ciudad Juárez. The 24,000-acre Franklin Mountains State Park is the largest urban park in the United States and resides entirely in El Paso.
Overview
El Paso is the sixth largest city in Texas and is located at the very western tip of the state. It is on the Rio Grande river, across it is the Mexican city Ciudad Juarez. The metro area is home to 750,000 people. El Paso is also home to Ft. Bliss, one of the largest Army bases in the world.
Native Americans lived in the area for thousands of years before the Spanish arrived in 1598. They soon founded what would become Ciudad Juarez on the south bank of the River. The Spanish eventually began using El Paso as the capital city of the province of Nuevo Mexico, which includes what today is New Mexico and Texas. The city and province was ceded to the United States after the Mexican American War in 1848.
The city, along with most other southern states, seceded from the Union during the Civil War, but then rejoined at the conclusion. At this time, Anson Mills, “the Father of El Paso,” made most of his contributions to the city. In 1881, the railroads reached the city, and the population shot to 10,000. The newcomers brought the lifestyle of the wild west, and soon the town was full of gunfighters, gamblers, and entrepreneurs. It took marshals as violent as the criminals wrestled the city back under control.
The 1930s were a good time in El Paso history. Conrad Hilton opened his first highrise hotel here, the Plaza Hotel, and what became Continental airlines was formed in 1934. The economy boomed till the 1980s, as industry moved in to the area. The margarita was invented here in 1945. The economy slowed down in the 1990s after many of the plants were closed, but now is headed on an upswing, as the city begins to expand again.
Climate
| Month | Avg Hi | Avg Lo | Avg Precip |
| Jan | 57°F | 33°F | 0.45 in. |
| Feb | 63°F | 38°F | 0.39 in. |
| Mar | 70°F | 44°F | 0.26 in. |
| Apr | 78°F | 51°F | 0.23 in. |
| May | 87°F | 61°F | 0.38 in. |
| Jun | 95°F | 69°F | 0.87 in. |
| Jul | 94°F | 72°F | 1.49 in. |
| Aug | 92°F | 70°F | 1.75 in. |
| Sep | 87°F | 64°F | 1.61 in. |
| Oct | 78°F | 52°F | 0.81 in. |
| Nov | 66°F | 40°F | 0.42 in. |
| Dec | 57°F | 33°F | 0.77 in. |
Important Contacts
Area Code for El Paso 915
Emergency 911
Police (915) 564-7000
911 N Raynor St
El Paso, TX
Fire (915) 771-1000
8600 Montana Ave
El Paso, TX 79925
City Hall (915) 541-4000
2 Civic Center Plaza
El Paso, TX 79901.
Utilities
El Paso Electric (915) 543-5711
El Paso Water Utilities (915) 594-5500
www.epwu.org
Texas Gas Service (915) 562-8411
Cable (915) 772-8777
Time Warner Cable
Advantage Cable (915) 771-7298
Phone
AT&T (800) 750-2355
By Car
A car is usually the easiest way to get from point A to point B in El Paso. The streets tend to wind a little, especially when you get away from downtown, so having a map in your car is a good idea. Interstate 10 is the main way in and out of town. It’ll take you directly to Tucson and San Antonio, or even Los Angeles and Jacksonville, FL, if you wanted. Connecting with 20 will take you to Dallas and Ft. Worth, or going west and connecting with I-25 will bring you to Albuquerque. US Route 54 is the major north-south freeway in town. There are a few different crossings into Mexico, the Bridge of the Maricas/Cordova Bridge is free, the rest have a small toll, but no commercial traffic, which is nice.
Public Transportation
Sun Metro
700-A San Francisco
El Paso, TX 79901
(915) 533-3333
Sun Metro runs El Paso’s bus system. Standard fare is $1, and there are reduced fares for students, military personnel, children, and seniors. Transfers are 10 cents. Route and fare information is available on Sun Metro’s website.
Air Transportation
El Paso International Airport
6701 Convair Road
El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 780-4749
www.elpasointernationalairport.com
Voter Registration
Secretary of State’s – Office Elections Division (800) 252-8683
To be eligible to register in Texas, you must:
- be a U.S. citizen
- be 18 years old (you may register at 17 years and 10 months)
- not be a convicted felon (unless a person’s sentence is completed, including any probation or parole)
- not be declared mentally incapacitated by a court of law
Television
| Ch 2 | XEPM | Televisia 2 | |
| Ch 4 | KDBC | CBS | |
| Ch 5 | XEJ | Televisia 9 | |
| Ch 7 | KVIA | ABC | |
| Ch 9 | KTSM | NBC | |
| Ch 10 | KOVT | ABC | |
| Ch 13 | KCOS | PBS | |
| CH 14 | KFOX | FOX | |
| Ch 18 | KDBC | CBS | |
| Ch 22 | KRWG | PBS | |
| Ch 25 | KINT | UNI | |
| Ch 38 | KSCE | Worship | |
| Ch 44 | XHIJ | Canal |
Radio
| AM Stations | |||
| 600 | KROD | News/talk/sports | |
| 640 | XEJUA | Oldies | |
| 690 | KTSM | News/talk/sports | |
| 750 | KAMA | Oldies | |
| 800 | XEROK | Esp… | |
| 860 | XEZOL | News-esp | |
| 920 | KBNA | Ac-esp | |
| 970 | XEJ | Ranchera | |
| 1000 | XEFV | Ranchera | |
| 1030 | XEYC | News/talk | |
| 1110 | XEWR | Oldies | |
| 1150 | KSVE | Sports | |
| 1190 | XEPZ | Nortena | |
| 1240 | XEWG | Soft ac | |
| 1300 | XEP | News/talk | |
| 1340 | KVIV | Religious | |
| 1380 | KHEY | Sports | |
| 1420 | XEF | Sports | |
| 1490 | XECJC | News/talk/esp | |
| 1560 | XEJPV | Religious | |
| 1590 | KELP | Religious | |
| 1650 | KHRO | Talk | |
| FM Stations | |||
| 88.5 | KTEP | Public/classical/jazz | |
| 89.5 | KKLY | Contempoary Christian | |
| 91.1 | KVER | Religious – esp | |
| 92.3 | KOFX | Oldies | |
| 93.1 | KSII | Hot Ac | |
| 93.9 | KINT | Classic Hits-esp | |
| 94.7 | KYSE | Chr-esp | |
| 95.5 | KLAQ | Active Rock | |
| 96.3 | KHEY | Country | |
| 97.5 | KBNA | Ac-esp | |
| 98.3 | XHPX | Chr-esp | |
| 99.1 | XHEPR | Classic Hits | |
| 99.9 | KTSM | Soft Ac | |
| 100.7 | XHH | Ac-esp | |
| 102.1 | KPRR | Chr-rythmic | |
| 103.1 | KPAS | Religious | |
| 103.5 | XHEM | Chr-esp | |
| 104.3 | XHTO | Chr-rythmic | |
| 105.1 | XHIM | Tejano | |
| 105.9 | XHGU | Soft Ac | |
| 106.7 | XHUAR | Active Rock | |
| 107.5 | XHNZ | Active Rock |
Newspapers
El Paso Times
(915) 546-6300
Daily paper with local and national news, classifieds, community information, opinions, and entertainment
Shopping
Cielo Vista Mall
8401 Gateway West
El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 779-7070
Situated on the East Side of the Sun City, Cielo Vista Mall is anchored by two Dillard’s department stores, JC Penneys, Sears, and Foley’s, and features 140 specialty stores.
Sunland Park Mall
750 Sunland Park Dr.
El Paso, TX 79912
(915) 833-5596
Sunland Park Mall features 2 Dillard’s locations, Mervyn’s, Sears and Foley’s plus more than 130 specialty stores – stores like Pac Sun, Hollister, Aeropostale, Gap, GapKids, Gymboree, Old Navy, American Eagle, Victoria’s Secret, Limited, Zales, Gordon’s, Kay Jewelers, and many more exciting stores.
Bassett Place
6101 Gateway West
El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 772-7479
This large mall is anchored by Target, Mervyn’s, and Costco. The interior stores include Ross, Payless Shoes, Radio Shack, Footlocker, Victoria’s Secret and many more. The mall also offers a large food court.
Museums
El Paso Museum of Art
One Arts Festival Plaza
El Paso, TX 79901
(915) 532-1707
(Free Admission)
The Museum houses a permanent collection of more than 5,000 works of art, including the Samuel H. Kress Collection of European art from the 13th-18th centuries, American art from the 19th-20th centuries, Mexican colonial art and retablos from the 18th-19th centuries, works on paper, and contemporary art from the Southwestern United States and Mexico.
Centennial Museum and Desert Gardens
University of Texas at El Paso
(915) 747-5565
The Museum’s permanent exhibits focus on the natural and cultural history of the Chihuahuan Desert region, the largest desert in North America, extending from central New Mexico deep into Mexico. The extensive stored collections of the Centennial are available for scholarly research. In the temporary galleries, the Museum presents a wide range of exhibits on themes related to border life and culture. It is closed during UTEP home football games.
Education k – 12
El Paso Independent School District
(915) 779-3781
Located in El Paso, Texas, the El Paso Independent School District is the largest district in the Texas Education Agency’s Educational Service Center – Region 19. With more than 63,000 students in 92 campuses, EPISD also is the seventh largest district in Texas and the 57th largest district in the United States. It also is El Paso’s largest employer with more than 9,000 employees and has an annual operating budget of $403 million.
Private Schools
El Paso School of Excellence
1605 George Dieter, Ste 501, El Paso, TX 79936
(915) 595-1599
Our Lady of Mount Carmel School (PK-8)
9101 Socorro Rd, El Paso, TX 79907
(915) 859-9812
Our Lady of Assumption School (PK-8)
4805 Byron St, El Paso, TX 79930
(915) 565-3411
St. Pius X School (PK-8)
1007 Geronimo Dr, El Paso, TX 79905
(915) 772-6598
St. Patrick Cathedral School (PK-8)
1111 North Stanton St, El Paso, TX 79902
(915) 532-4142
St. Josephs School (PK-8)
1300 Lamar St, El Paso, TX 79903
(915) 566-1661
Our Lady of the Valley School (PK-8)
8600 Winchester, El Paso, TX 79907
(915) 859-6448
Most Holy Trinity School (PK-8)
10000 Pheasant Rd, El Paso, TX 79924
(915) 751-2566
Cathedral High School (9-12)
1309 N. Stanton, El Paso, TX 79902
(915) 532-3238
Blessed Sacrament (PK-8)
9001 Diana, El Paso, TX 79904
(915) 755-2711
Radford School (PK-12)
2001 Radford Street, El Paso, TX 79903
(915) 565-2737
El Paso Jewish Academy (1-8)
805 Cherry Hill Lane, El Paso, TX 79912
(915) 833-0808
St. Raphael School (PK-8)
2310 Woodside Dr, El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 598-2241
Elpaso Adventist Junior Academy (1-10)
8080 Meraz Ave, El Paso, TX 79907
(915) 598-4711
Northeast Christian Academy (PK-12)
9901 McCombs St, El Paso, TX 79924
(915) 755-1155
Bethel Temple Christian School (PK-12)
6301 Alabama, El Paso, TX 79904
(915) 565-2222
El Paso Country Day School (PK-12)
109 Argonaut Dr, El Paso, TX 79912
(915) 533-4099
Trinity Lutheran School (PK-8)
3800 Hondo Pass Dr, El Paso, TX 79904
(915) 755-7259
Community of Faith Christian School (PK-8)
4539 Emory Road, El Paso, TX 79922
(915) 584-2561
Silver Christian Academy (PK-6)
2520 Silver, El Paso, TX 79930
(915) 565-6361
New World Montessori School (PK-8)
3510 N Yarbrough Dr, El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 593-8091
Father Yermo High School (9-12)
250 Washington St, El Paso, TX 79905
(915) 533-3185
Christian Joy Center Academy (PK-6)
1208 Sumac Drive, El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 633-6819
Mount Franklin Christian Academy (PK-8)
201 E Sunset Rd, El Paso, TX 79922
(915) 581-4487
North Loop Christian Academy (PK-11)
8617 North Loop, El Paso, TX 79907
(915) 872-9435
El Paso Bridges Academy (1-9)
901 Arizona, El Paso, TX 79902
(915) 532-6647
Immanuel Baptist Christian School (PK-12)
1201 Hawkins Blvd, El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 778-6160
Faith Christian Academy (PK-12)
8960 Escobar Dr, El Paso, TX 79907
(915) 594-3305
Jesus Chapel (PK-12)
10200 Album, El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 593-1153
Peace Lutheran Church (PK-K)
1035 Belvedere St Suite 123, El Paso, TX 79912
(915) 581-5525
All Sts. School (K-4)
3500 McRae Blvd., El Paso, TX 79936
(915) 598-0724
St. Clement’s Episcopal Parish (PK-8)
600 Montana, El Paso, TX 79902
(915) 533-4248
Loretto Academy (PK-12)
1300 Hardaway St, El Paso, TX 79903
(915) 566-8400
Father Yermo Elementary School (2-8)
237 Tobin Pl, El Paso, TX 79905
(915) 533-4693
Our Lady of Mount Carmel School (PK-8)
9101 Socorro Rd, El Paso, TX 79907
(915) 859-9812
Our Lady of the Valley School (PK-8)
8600 Winchester Rd, El Paso, TX 79907
(915) 859-6448
St. Joseph School (PK-8)
1300 Lamar, El Paso, TX 79903
(915) 566-1661
St. Pius X School (PK-8)
1007 Geronimo Dr, El Paso, TX 79905
(915) 772-6598
Holy Trinity School (PK-8)
10000 Pheasant Rd, El Paso, TX 79924
(915) 751-2566
St. Raphael’s School (PK-8)
2310 Woodside Dr, El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 598-2241
El Paso Junior Academy (1-12)
8080 Meraz Ave, El Paso, TX 79907
(915) 598-4711
Faith Christian Academy (K-12)
8960 Escobar Dr, El Paso, TX 79907
(915) 594-3305
All God’s Children School (K-12)
301 S Schultz Dr, El Paso, TX 79907
(915) 858-2125
Almost Angles Day Care (K-12)
10137 Bermuda Ave, El Paso, TX 79925
Children’s World Learning Center (K-12)
1516 Lomaland Dr, El Paso, TX 79935
East Montessouri Learning Center (PK-7)
3510 N Yarbrough Dr, El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 593-8091
Immanuel Baptist School (PK-12)
1201 Hawkins Blvd, El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 778-6160
Northeast Children’s Education Center (K-12)
9901 McCombs, El Paso, TX 79924
(915) 755-1155
Northeast Christian Academy (K-12)
9901 McCombs, El Paso, TX 79924
(915) 755-1155
Rainbow Day School (K-12)
11860 Rojas, El Paso, TX 79936
School for Education Enrichment (K-12)
7310 Bishop Flores, El Paso, TX 79912
(915) 854-9499
Storybook School (K-12)
7000 Edgemere Blvd, El Paso, TX 79925
Trinity Lutheran School (PK-8)
3800 Hondo Pass, El Paso, TX 79904
(915) 755-7259
North Loop Baptist Church (K-11)
8617 N Loop Dr, El Paso, TX 79902
(915) 859-8090
Regional Day School-Deaf (PK-12)
1308 Zuni Pl, El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 779-8151
Ronald McDonald House (PK-12)
1017 Montana, El Paso, TX 79902
(915) 542-1522
Blessed Sacrament School (PK-8)
9001 Diana Dr, El Paso, TX 79904
(915) 755-2711
Father Yermo Elementary School (PK-8)
237 Tobin Pl, El Paso, TX 79905
(915) 533-4693
Our Lady of Assump School (PK-8)
4805 Byron St, El Paso, TX 79930
(915) 565-3411
St. Pius X School (PK-8)
1007 Geronimo Dr, El Paso, TX 79905
(915) 772-6598
Lee Moor Home (PK-12)
1100 Cliff Dr, El Paso, TX 79902
(915) 544-8777
Cathedral High School (9-12)
1309 N Stanton St, El Paso, TX 79902
(915) 532-3238
El Paso Country Day School (PK-12)
220 E Cliff Dr, El Paso, TX 79902
(915) 533-4492
El Paso Hebrew Day School (K-8)
805 Cherry Hill Ln, El Paso, TX 79912
(915) 833-0808
Father Yermo High School (9-12)
250 Washington St, El Paso, TX 79905
(915) 533-3185
Loretto High School (9-12)
1300 Hardaway St, El Paso, TX 79903
(915) 566-9372
Lydia Patterson School (9-12)
517 S Florence St, El Paso, TX 79901
(915) 533-8286
Radford School (PK-12)
2001 Radford St, El Paso, TX 79903
(915) 565-2737
St. Clements Episcopal School (PK-9)
600 Montana Ave, El Paso, TX 79902
(915) 533-4248
St. Joseph’s School (PK-8)
1300 Lamar St, El Paso, TX 79903
(915) 566-1661
St. Patrick’s School (PK-8)
1111 N Stanton St, El Paso, TX 79902
(915) 532-4142
Solid Rock Christian Academy (2-12)
2520 Silver Street, El Paso, TX 79930
(915) 562-7373
Father Yermo Elementary School (2-8)
237 Tobin Place, El Paso, TX 79905
(915) 533-4693
Higher Education
Community Colleges
Community colleges exist for two major purposes. The first is to serve as a bridge from high school to college by providing courses for transfer toward a bachelor’s degree. Four out of 10 collegebound high-school graduates start their college education this way.
The second function of community colleges is to prepare students for the job market by offering entry-level career training as well as courses for adult students who want to upgrade their skills for the workplace. They often offer programs that are not available at four-year schools, like fashion design.
Liberal Arts Colleges
Liberal arts colleges offer a broad base of courses in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Most are private and focus mainly on undergraduate students. Classes tend to be small and personal attention is available.
Online Learning
Recent years have witnessed the rise of online degree programs, to allow the busy professional a chance to work at their own pace from the comfort of their home on the path to getting a degree. The costs to students are typically the same as for traditional classes- and financial aid is equally available-while the cost to the institution can be much less.
There are online universities ranging from legitimate distance learning systems to fly-by-night degree-mills. It’s important to research a particular institution before deciding to enroll in their system. Generally, brick-and-mortar schools that also offer online classes are the safest, though there are plenty of fully accredited online universities out there.
Nearly 3 million students are believed to be taking online classes at institutions of higher education in the United States this year. That number has been growing about 25% a year recently. Now, virtually all public higher education institutions, as well as a vast majority of private, for-profit institutions, now offer online classes. By contrast, only about half of private, nonprofit schools offer them. Online schools offer everything from Associate’s degrees to Doctoral programs with available emphases in everything from Business Administration to Criminal Justice to Nursing. Some programs require students to attend some campus classes or orientations, but many are delivered completely online. Online courses generally require a computer with a broadband connection, but are now a serious option for the busy professional.
Public vs. Private
Public colleges are usually less expensive, particularly for in-state residents. They get most of their money from the state or local government. Private colleges rely on tuition, fees, endowments, and other private sources. Private colleges are usually smaller and can offer more personalized attention and often more prestige.
Universities
Generally, a university is bigger than a college and offers more majors and research facilities. Class size often reflects institutional size and some classes may taught by graduate students.
Upper Division
Upper-division schools offer the last two years of undergraduate study, usually in specialized programs leading to a bachelor’s degree. Students then generally transfer to an upper-division college after completing an associate degree or after finishing a second year of study at a four-year college.
Higher Education
The University of Texas at El Paso
500 West University Avenue
El Paso, Texas 79968
(915) 747-5000
UTEP is a good school, and is the largest in the country with a majority Mexican-American student body. It was founded at as the Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy, and still has a mineshaft on campus.
El Paso Community College
(915) 831-EPCC
The El Paso Community College has 5 campuses around the city of El Paso.
Texas Tech School of Medicine
4801 Alberta Ave
El Paso, TX 79901
(915) 545-6760
Texas Tech El Paso has close to 1,000 faculty and staff members. It is a flourishing health sciences center and medical center with clinics located in East, West, Central, and Northeast El Paso.
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