El Paso is a city located in the Western part of the state of Texas on the border with Mexico. The population of El Paso in 2014 is 679 thousand people, along with the suburbs over 800 thousand.
El Paso has a nicknamed-Sun City. El Paso is bordered by the large fast-growing Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez, where more than 1.3 million people live. The border between the United States and Mexico runs along the Rio Grande, which separates El Paso from Ciudad Juarez.
El Paso differs in many ways from most other major cities in the United States. It is a border town with a characteristic mixture of Texas, Mexico, Latin American life and a large military presence.
Originally the city was named by Spanish travelers El Paso del Norte-Passage to the North. The region was colonized by Europeans after 1598 when Don Juan de Onate led an expedition to the land. In 1848, El Paso officially became part of the United States, and a military post was erected in the region, which eventually turned into a modern military base Fort Bliss. In 1873, El Paso was granted city status.
The height of the city is 3,800 ft above sea level. On all sides, El Paso is surrounded by the Chihuahuan Desert. To the North of the town are the Franklin Mountains. North Franklin Mountain is the highest mountain located within the city limits. A mountain is a popular place for tourism. On its Eastern slope is the Museum of archaeology.
Franklin mountains divide the city into several parts. The Western part of the West Side, located between the Franklin mountains of Mexico and the state of New Mexico, is considered the richest. In the southern part of the city is downtown, which boasts beautiful squares, many cafes and small shops in the Mexican style. Many of the buildings are old, but look very nice. In the North East area, there is an international airport and a military base at Fort Bliss. The Eastern part of the city's East Side is the most rapidly growing, which is mostly inhabited by working families. El Paso occupies a vast territory and is constantly growing. Most of the houses in the city are 1 and 2-storey.
Through El Paso passes several highways connecting the city with other Texas cities, as well as with the state of Arizona and New Mexico. Rail passenger service connects El Paso with Los Angeles and New Orleans. In addition, regular flights depart from the airport to Dallas, Phoenix, Houston, Austin, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Chicago, as well as other major cities.
El Paso offers furnished rooms for students, interns, and working professionals looking for flexible monthly stays.
