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El Paso County, Texas

Coordinates: 31°46′N 106°14′W / 31.77°N 106.24°W / 31.77; -106.24
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For the county in Colorado, see El Paso County, Colorado.

El Paso County
County
Skyline of El Paso, the largest city within the county
Skyline of El Paso, the largest city within the county
Flag of El Paso County
Flag
Official seal of El Paso County
Seal
Map of Texas highlighting El Paso County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°46′N 106°14′W / 31.77°N 106.24°W / 31.77; -106.24
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1871
SeatEl Paso
Largest cityEl Paso
Area
 • Total
1,015 sq mi (2,630 km2)
 • Land1,013 sq mi (2,620 km2)
 • Water2.3 sq mi (6 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
865,657
 • Density850/sq mi (330/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districts16th, 23rd
Websitewww.epcounty.com

El Paso County is the westernmost county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 865,657,[1] making it the ninth-most populous county in the state of Texas. Its seat is the city of El Paso,[2] the sixth-most populous city in Texas and the 22nd-most populous city in the United States. The county was created in 1850 and later organized in 1871.[3]

El Paso is short for "El Paso del Norte", which is Spanish for "The Route of the North". It is named for the pass the Rio Grande creates through the mountains on either side of the river. The county is northeast of the Mexico–United States border.

El Paso County is included in the El Paso metropolitan area. Along with Hudspeth County, it is one of two counties of Texas entirely in the Mountain Time Zone (all other Texas counties except for northwestern Culberson County use Central Time). El Paso County is one of nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas.

Geography

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El Paso is on the US-Mexico border

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,015 square miles (2,630 km2), of which 1,013 square miles (2,620 km2) is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2) (0.2%) is water.[4][5][6][7][8][9]

Adjacent counties and municipalities

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National protected area

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Major highways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18604,051—
18703,671−9.4%
18803,8454.7%
189015,678307.8%
190024,88658.7%
191052,599111.4%
1920101,87793.7%
1930131,59729.2%
1940131,067−0.4%
1950194,96848.8%
1960314,07061.1%
1970359,29114.4%
1980479,89933.6%
1990591,61023.3%
2000679,62214.9%
2010800,64717.8%
2020865,6578.1%
2022 (est.)868,763[10]0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1850–2010[12] 2010[13] 2020[14]
El Paso County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1990[15] Pop 2000[16] Pop 2010[13] Pop 2020[14] % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 151,313 115,535 105,246 98,219 25.58% 17.00% 13.15% 11.35%
Black or African American alone (NH) 20,525 18,671 20,649 24,415 3.47% 2.75% 2.58% 2.82%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1,634 2,057 2,269 2,365 0.28% 0.30% 0.28% 0.27%
Asian alone (NH) 5,820 6,148 7,551 10,692 0.98% 0.90% 0.94% 1.24%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) N/A 440 805 1,527 N/A 0.06% 0.10% 0.18%
Other race alone (NH) 699 497 602 2,422 0.12% 0.07% 0.08% 0.28%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) N/A 4,620 5,391 10,666 N/A 0.68% 0.67% 1.23%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 411,619 531,654 658,134 715,351 69.58% 78.23% 82.20% 82.64%
Total 591,610 679,622 800,647 865,657 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 800,647 people living in the county. 82.1% were White of largely Hispanic descent, 10.5% of other races, 3.1% African American or Black, 2.5% of two or more races, 1.0% Asian, 0.8% Native American and 0.1% Pacific Islander. 82.2% were Latino (of any race).

As of the census[17] of 2000, there were 679,622 people, 210,022 households, and 166,127 families living in the county. The population density was 671 people per square mile (259 people/km2). There were 224,447 housing units at an average density of 222 per square mile (86/km2). The city was 78.23% Latino of any race. The racial makeup of the county was 73.95% White, 17.91% from other races, 3.06% African American or Black, 0.82% Native American, 0.98% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, and 3.19% from two or more races.

There were 210,022 households, out of which 44.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 18.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.90% were non-families. 17.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.18 and the average family size was 3.63.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 32.00% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 18.40% from 45 to 64, and 9.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,051, and the median income for a family was $33,410. Males had a median income of $26,882 versus $20,722 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,421. About 20.50% of families and 23.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.50% of those under age 18 and 18.50% of those age 65 or over.

Government and Politics

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Most of El Paso County is included in the 16th Congressional District in the U.S. House, represented by Democrat Veronica Escobar. A small eastern portion of the county is in the 23rd Congressional District, represented since 2021 by Republican Tony Gonzales. El Paso County is historically Democratic and the 2008 presidential election was no exception. Democrat Barack Obama won 66% of the vote with 121,589 votes even though he lost the entire state of Texas by about 946,000 votes. Republican John McCain won 33% of the vote in El Paso County with 61,598 votes. Other candidates won 1% of the vote. In 2004, Democrat John F. Kerry won El Paso County but by a smaller margin than Barack Obama. John Kerry won 56% of the vote and 95,142 votes. Republican George W. Bush won 43% of the vote with 73,261 votes. Other candidates won less than 1% of the vote.[citation needed] But in 2024 Donald Trump got the biggest vote share for a Republican in the county since 2004 with 41.8%, constituting a 10 point shift to the right from 2020.[18] This was largely due to increased support for Trump among Latinos, whom he won in Texas by 54%.[19]

United States presidential election results for El Paso County, Texas[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 105,124 41.72% 143,156 56.81% 3,725 1.48%
2020 84,331 31.56% 178,126 66.66% 4,758 1.78%
2016 55,512 25.71% 147,843 68.47% 12,567 5.82%
2012 57,150 33.09% 112,952 65.40% 2,601 1.51%
2008 61,783 33.28% 122,021 65.73% 1,826 0.98%
2004 73,261 43.20% 95,142 56.11% 1,170 0.69%
2000 57,574 39.69% 83,848 57.81% 3,620 2.50%
1996 43,255 32.11% 83,964 62.33% 7,491 5.56%
1992 47,224 34.94% 67,715 50.10% 20,224 14.96%
1988 55,573 46.79% 62,622 52.72% 586 0.49%
1984 66,114 55.83% 51,917 43.84% 399 0.34%
1980 53,276 53.53% 40,082 40.27% 6,168 6.20%
1976 42,697 47.72% 45,477 50.83% 1,291 1.44%
1972 49,981 60.15% 32,435 39.04% 674 0.81%
1968 30,347 44.55% 32,658 47.94% 5,111 7.50%
1964 20,687 36.99% 35,050 62.67% 190 0.34%
1960 21,551 45.20% 26,027 54.59% 99 0.21%
1956 18,532 54.70% 15,157 44.73% 193 0.57%
1952 20,005 57.74% 14,595 42.12% 47 0.14%
1948 5,544 25.85% 15,341 71.53% 563 2.62%
1944 2,072 13.18% 11,426 72.69% 2,220 14.12%
1940 3,764 23.28% 12,374 76.55% 27 0.17%
1936 1,773 12.84% 11,920 86.32% 116 0.84%
1932 2,841 19.74% 11,336 78.77% 215 1.49%
1928 6,050 49.74% 6,114 50.26% 0 0.00%
1924 4,078 35.99% 6,220 54.90% 1,032 9.11%
1920 4,070 49.12% 4,143 50.00% 73 0.88%
1916 1,770 32.08% 3,603 65.30% 145 2.63%
1912 291 7.21% 2,914 72.18% 832 20.61%

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office is headquartered in an unincorporated area in El Paso County.[21] At one point it was headquartered within the City of El Paso.[22] The Leo Samaniego Law Enforcement Complex is adjacent to the sheriff's office headquarters.[23]

Like all Texas counties, El Paso County is governed by a Commissioners Court, which consists of a County Judge, who is elected county-wide, and four County Commissioners, who represent individual precincts.[24] While the County Judge possesses some traditional powers of a judge, the County Judge functions primarily as the chief executive of the county. The County Judge presides over Commissioners Court meetings, casts one vote on Commissioners Court (as do County Commissioners), and lacks veto authority.

The El Paso County Judge is Ricardo Samaniego, and the county commissioners are Carlos Leon (Precinct 1), David Stout (Precinct 2), Iliana Holguin (Precinct 3),[25] and Carl L. Robinson(Precinct 4). The commissioners and the county judge are all Democrats.

Vogt was appointed County Judge in October 2017 by the County Commissioners, following County Judge Veronica Escobar's resignation to run for Congress. He was previously Escobar's chief of staff. He will serve the remainder of her term, through the end of 2018.[26] Leon and Perez were first elected to their positions in 2012, were re-elected in 2016,[27] and have been in office since 2013. Haggerty and Stout were first elected to their positions in 2014, and have been in office since 2015.[28]

The first woman to hold elected office in El Paso County was a teacher, Myra Carroll Winkler, who was elected as superintendent of El Paso County schools in 1912.[29][30]

United States Congress

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Representatives Name Party First Elected Area(s) of El Paso County Represented
  District 16 Veronica Escobar Democratic 2018 City of El Paso, Fort Bliss, Horizon City, Sparks
  District 23 Tony Gonzales Republican 2020 Agua Dulce, Biggs Field, Butterfield, Clint, Fabens, Homestead Meadows North, Homestead Meadows South, Socorro, San Elizario, Tornillo

Texas Legislature

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Texas Senate

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District Name Party First Elected Area(s) of El Paso County Represented
  29 Cesar Blanco Democratic 2020 Entirety of El Paso County

Texas House of Representatives

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District Name Party First Elected Area(s) of El Paso County Represented
  74 Eddie Morales Democratic 2020 Northeast El Paso County
  75 Mary González Democratic 2012 Parts of the city of El Paso and Socorro, Clint, Fabens, Horizon City, San Elizario and Tornillo.
  77 Evelina Ortega Democratic 2016 Parts of the city of El Paso
  78 Joe Moody Democratic 2008 Northern El Paso County, including parts of the city of El Paso and Anthony, Canutillo, Prado Verde, Vinton and Westway.
  130 Claudia Ordaz Democratic 2022 Parts of the city of El Paso and Fort Bliss

County government

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El Paso County elected officials

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Position Name Party
  County Judge Ricardo Samaniego Democratic
  Commissioner, Precinct 1 Carlos Leon Democratic
  Commissioner, Precinct 2 David Stout Democratic
  Commissioner, Precinct 3 Iliana Houglin Democratic
  Commissioner, Precinct 4 Sergio Cornando Democratic
  District Attorney Bill D. Hicks Republican
  District Clerk Norma Favela Barceleau Democratic
  County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal Democratic
  County Clerk Delia Briones Democratic
  Sheriff Richard D. Wiles Democratic
  Tax Assessor-Collector Ruben P. Gonzalez Democratic
  Constable, Precinct 1 Oscar Ugarte Democratic
  Constable, Precinct 2 Danny T. Zamora Democratic
  Constable, Precinct 3 Hector J. Bernal Democratic
  Constable, Precinct 4 Luis Aguilar Democratic
  Constable, Precinct 5 Manny Lopez Democratic
  Constable, Precinct 6, Place 1 & 2 Javier Garcia Democratic
  Constable, Precinct 7 Humberto "Beto" Enriquez Democratic

Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Village

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Census-designated places

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Military Base

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Unincorporated communities

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Economy

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As of 2021, El Paso County had a total GDP of around $30 billion and $35,000 per capita.[31]

Education

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School districts include:[32]

All of the county is in the service area of El Paso Community College.[33]

National Historic Landmark

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The Rio Vista Bracero Reception Center was designated It was named a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, on December 11, 2023. The Rio Vista Farm buildings and surrounding fields in Socorro, TX are included in the Historic Landmark district.[34]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "El Paso County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  5. ^ "Distance from Portland to Seattle". check-distance.com. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  6. ^ "Distance from San Diego to Los Angeles". check-distance.com. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  7. ^ "Distance from Denver to Chicago". check-distance.com. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  8. ^ "Distance from Denver to Colorado Springs". check-distance.com. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  9. ^ "Distance from Miami to Orlando". check-distance.com. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  11. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  13. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - El Paso County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - El Paso County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "Texas: 1990, Part 1" (PDF). Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  16. ^ "Texas: 2000" (PDF). Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  17. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  18. ^ https://www.cnn.com/election/2024/results/texas
  19. ^ https://www.cnn.com/election/2024/exit-polls/texas/general/president/7
  20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  21. ^ "Contact Us Archived 2009-07-20 at the Wayback Machine." El Paso County Sheriff's Office. Retrieved on December 6, 2009.
  22. ^ "Administration Division." El Paso County Sheriff's Office. April 5, 2001. Retrieved on December 6, 2009.
  23. ^ "Communications Department Archived 2010-01-04 at the Wayback Machine." El Paso County. Retrieved on December 6, 2009.
  24. ^ "County Commissioners Maps". Epcountyvotes.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  25. ^ "County of el Paso Texas - County Judge".
  26. ^ "Commissioners choose County Judge Veronica Escobar's chief of staff to replace her". elpasotimes.com.
  27. ^ "Commissioners Leon, Perez sworn in to second term". elpasotimes.com.
  28. ^ "Two new faces to join El Paso County Commissioners Court in the new year". El Paso Times.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2014. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  29. ^ "Forty Years Ago". El Paso Times. November 14, 1952. p. 6. Retrieved December 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ Longo, Joseph (Spring 2016). "Early El Paso Women Political Pioneers: 1912-1952". Password. 60 (1): 15.
  31. ^ "GDP by county in 2021" (PDF).
  32. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: El Paso County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022. - Text list
  33. ^ Texas Education Code, Section 130.178, "El Paso County Community College District Service Area".
  34. ^ "Rio Vista Farm | National Trust for Historic Preservation". savingplaces.org. December 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
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31°46′N 106°14′W / 31.77°N 106.24°W / 31.77; -106.24

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