El Paso is the fourth-largest city in Texas, the biggest border city (and the 22nd-largest city of any kind) in America, and almost as close to Los Angeles as to Houston.
City of El Paso | El Paso County | State of Texas
LOCATION
El Paso is located in the westernmost corner of Texas, right where Texas,
New Mexico, and Mexico come together. It lies 710 miles east of Los Angeles,
670 miles northwest of Houston, 565 miles southwest of Dallas, and 710
miles south of Denver. El Paso is 1,250 miles from Chicago, and roughly
1,835 miles from New York or Philadelphia.
32.0° N 106.6° W Mapquest map
POPULATION
Just over 700,000 people live in El Paso, which makes it the fourth most
populous city in Texas. Combined with Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, though, the
metropolitan area forms the largest population center on any international
border in the world. About 2.2 million live in the area, with 700,000
residents in El Paso County. The median age is 27 years.
SIZE
El Paso has 248 square miles in area, making it the fourth largest city
in Texas, and 22nd in size in the United States. It is the nation's third
fastest-growing metropolitan area. El Paso is the county seat of 1,054-square
mile El Paso County.
CLIMATE
Bring your sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen, leave the umbrella and
raincoat behind. El Paso's average summer high is 95 degrees with very
low humidity. Its average winter high temperature is 55-60 degrees. Annual
rainfall is only 8.65 inches. Current weather
TIME ZONE
El Paso is on Mountain Standard Time. From April through October, the
city observes Daylight Savings Time, setting their clocks ahead one hour
in April and back an hour in October.
AREA CODE
El Paso's telephone area code is 915. (Area code throughout neighboring
New Mexico is 505. And to call Ciudad Juarez, just across the Rio Grande
in Mexico, dial 011-52-656 plus the seven digit Juarez number.)
INCOME TAX
El Paso has no state, county, or city income tax.
MAJOR BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES
The military (Fort Bliss) and other government agencies, defense-related businesses
and education, retail and wholesale trades, manufacturing and agriculture
form the city's economic base. The maquila industry, found just across
the river in Ciudad Juarez, is also a major employer.
UNIVERSITIES
UTEP is a top tier doctoral research university located in one of the largest binational communities in the world. They offer a large variety of degrees, as well as continuing education programs through their main El Paso campus
HOUSING COSTS
The average selling price for a 3 bedroom home in 2001 was about $90,000.
Employee/Operator Training & Safety
The National Forklift Foundation has partnered with many construction and industrial organizations around the city to provide online OSHA forklift certifications to new operators. The National Forklift Foundation has made a concerted effort to help advocate for a safer workplace by ensuring employers are correctly following the Occupational Safety & Health Administrations training requirements as outlined on their website.
VEHICLE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
The El Paso County Courthouse
handles vehicle registration downtown and at three branch offices. All
new residents have 30 days to register vehicles in Texas. Fees and taxes
for cars are based on age; for trucks they're based on carrying capacity.
There is also a new resident tax. Texas also requires annual safety inspections
stickers, available at many service facilities. A nominal fee and proof
of insurance is required before the sticker can be issued. Get the inspection
sticker first, and then go to the tax office. Call (915) 546-2140.
UTILITY INFORMATION
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, separated by the Rio Grande, have been uniquely
linked culturally and economically since their founding. Over the past
400 years the contributions of native Indians, Spanish conquistadors,
Central and South Americans, Europeans and Asians have enriched El Paso's
artistic and cultural life.
COST OF LIVING
El Paso's low cost of living compares very favorably with other major
cities. On average, El Pasoans pay 94% of the national average for all
items.
Compared to other U.S. cities, El Paso's cost of living is low:
