El Paso–Juárez
Encyclopedia
El Paso–Juárez, also known as Juárez-El Paso, the Borderplex or Paso del Norte, is a binational metropolitan area
, or conurbation
, on the border between Mexico
and the United States
. The region is centered on two large cities: Ciudad Juárez
, Chihuahua, Mexico
and El Paso
, Texas
, USA
. Additionally, nearby Las Cruces, New Mexico
, USA
is sometimes included as part of the region, referred to as El Paso–Juárez-Las Cruces or El Paso–Juárez-Southern New Mexico. At more than 2.3 million people this binational region is one of the largest cross-border metropolitan areas in the world.
This region is commonly subdivided into the Juárez Metropolitan Area (Zona Metropolitana de Juárez) and Greater El Paso, as well as Greater Las Cruces. These sub-regions are typically divided by state borders: Chihuahua, Texas, and New Mexico.
Some of the major suburbs are Fabens, Texas
; Puerto de Anapra, Chihuahua; San Elizario, Texas
; Socorro, Texas
; Sunland Park, New Mexico
. Additionally there are many smaller communities in the area including Anthony, New Mexico
; Anthony, Texas
; Canutillo, Texas
; Chaparral, New Mexico
; Horizon City, Texas
; Mesilla, New Mexico
; Santa Teresa, New Mexico
; University Park, New Mexico
; Vado, New Mexico
; and Westway, Texas
.
s from hunter-gatherer
s found at Hueco Tanks
. The earliest known cultures in the region were maize
farmers. At the time of the arrival of the Spanish
the Manso
, Suma, and Jumano
tribes populated the area and today form the basis of the Mestizo
culture in the area. The Mescalero Apache roamed the region as well.
Spanish explorer Don Juan de Oñate was the first European explorer to arrive at the Rio Grande
near modern Juárez and El Paso in 1598, celebrating Thanksgiving Mass
there on April 30, 1598 (several decades before the Pilgrims' Thanksgiving). El Paso del Norte (the present day Ciudad Juárez
), was founded on the south bank of the Río Bravo del Norte, (Rio Grande
) in 1659 by Spanish conquistadors. The Mission of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe became its first major settlement. Being a grassland then, agriculture flourished and vineyards and fruits constituted the bulk of the regional production. The Spanish Crown and the local authorities of El Paso del Norte had made several land concessions to bring agricultural production to the northern bank of the river in present day El Paso. However, the Apaches dissuaded settlement and development across the river. The water provided a natural defense against them.
El Paso became the southernmost locality of the Provincia de Nuevo Mexico (modern New Mexico
). It remained largest city in New Mexico until its north side was ceded to the US
in 1850. It communicated with Santa Fe and Mexico City by the Royal Road. American spies, traders and fur trappers visited the area since 1804 and some intermarried with the area's Hispanic elite. Although there was no combat in the region during the Mexican War of Independence, El Paso del Norte experienced the negative effects it had on its wine trade.
The Texas Revolution
(1836) was not felt in the region as the area was never considered part of Texas until 1848. Given the blurry reclamations of the Texas Republic that wanted a chunk of the Santa Fe trade, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo effectively made the settlements on the north bank of the river a formal American settlement, separate from Old El Paso del Norte on the Mexican side. The present Texas-New Mexico boundary placing El Paso on the Texas side was drawn in the Compromise of 1850
.
The communities on both sides of the border continued to function, in large part, as a single community. The United States Senate fixed a boundary between Texas and New Mexico at the thirty-second parallel, thus largely ignoring history and topography. A military post called The Post opposite El Paso (meaning opposite El Paso del Norte, across the Rio Grande) was established in 1854. Further west, a settlement on Coons' Rancho called Franklin became the nucleus of the future El Paso, Texas. A year later pioneer Anson Mills
completed his plan of the town, calling it El Paso and the town was incorporated in 1873. During the French intervention in Mexico
(1862–1867), El Paso del Norte served as a temporary stop for republican forces of rebel leader Benito Juárez
until he established his government-in-exile in Chihuahua
. In 1888, El Paso del Norte was renamed in honor of Juárez.
In the later 19th century the population in the region began to grow rapidly. With the arrival of the Southern Pacific
, Texas and Pacific
and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroads in 1881, trade with the rest of the U.S. increased substantially. The area attracted newcomers ranging from businessmen and priest
s, to gunfighters and prostitutes. In the U.S. El Paso became known as the "Six Shooter Capital" because of its lawlessness. Prostitution
and gambling
flourished. During World War I, the U.S. Department of the Army pressured El Paso authorities to crack down on vice, creating a tourist boom in Juárez whose vice businesses continued to thrive.
Mining and other industries gradually developed in the area. The 1920s and 1930s saw the emergence of major business development in the city partially enabled by Prohibition era bootlegging with the area becoming a significant port of entry for liquor. The Depression era hit the region hard and population declined through the end of World War II. Following the war, military expansion in the area as well as oil discoveries in the Texas Permian Basin helped spur redevelopment in the mid 1900s. Disparities in wages and cost of living between the U.S. and Mexico helped encourage many businesses to establish manufacturing operations in Mexico during the mid 20th century, thus making El Paso–Juárez an attractive location for manufacturing. The signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) helped spur this trend even further.
which run through the region have peaks rising much higher. North Franklin Peak, for example, rises to 7192 feet (2,192.1 m).
The most well-known feature of the area is the Rio Grande
which divides the U.S. from Mexico. The river flows through the Rio Grande Rift
, which passes around the southern end of the Franklin Mountains
. West of Juárez and El Paso the river turns away from the border connecting these cities with Las Cruces.
Mt. Cristo Rey, a volcanic peak (an example of a pluton
) rises within the Rio Grande Rift
just to the west of El Paso on the New Mexico side
of the Rio Grande River. Other volcanic features include Kilbourne hole
and Hunt's hole, which are Maar volcanic craters 30 miles (50 km) west of the Franklin Mountains
.
The area lies in the Chihuahuan Desert
, which itself is the easternmost section of the Basin and Range Region.
and the American Southwest. Rainfall is very scarce but it is more prominent in the summer months. Snowfall is not a rare event—it normally snows once or twice every winter.
the region holds offices for more than 70 Fortune 500
companies. It is also home to more than 320 manufacturing plants (those in Juárez are commonly referred to as maquiladora
s) and more than 1,100 manufacturing operations total. The largest sectors of manufacturing are automobiles and automobile components, and consumer electronic components. Apparel and textile manufacturing, though, are important sectors as well, particularly north of the border. The area employs approximately 262,000 people in manufacturing with 85% of those in Juárez. Many of the workers in Juárez, however, live in the United States.
An important pillar of the economy of El Paso has been Fort Bliss
and Biggs Army Airfield
. Since frontier days military spending, directly and indirectly, has provided a significant source of money to El Paso and to the region as a whole. the economic impact of Fort Bliss is estimated at more than US$1 billion. Fort Bliss is currently planning a US$4.5 billion expansion that will substantially impact the area economy.
Call centers are additionally major employers in El Paso and neighboring communities in the U.S.
A recent development that is expected to create new economic opportunities in the area is the planned creation of a full medical school in El Paso as part of the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center
.
and the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez (Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez). These universities have strong ties to each other (as well as to the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua
) with formal programs of exchange for scholars and students. New Mexico State University in Las Cruces is an additional major university in the area.
Other area colleges include Universidad Tecnológica de Ciudad Juárez (Technological University of Ciudad Juárez), Western Technical College
-El Paso, and Vista College (El Paso and Las Cruces). El Paso Community College and Doña Ana Community College provide supplemental higher-education opportunities for students in the region.
and World War II
brought about more strict enforcement of the border in this region making access between the communities more difficult. Nevertheless, the communities have continued to share ethnic and cultural bonds particularly as economic integration in the later 20th century has re-opened much of the access between the communities. Even today the cities still see themselves as a single, closely tied community.
The violence in Juárez that erupted in 2008–2009 has forced the U.S. to tighten its policies regarding allowing Juárez residents access to El Paso. Tourists, workers, and students who were once allowed regular access across the border have been restricted to much tighter schedules for travel.
in El Paso is the largest urban park in the United States. Other urban parks in the area include Ascarate Park (El Paso), Parque Central (Juárez), Parque Chamizal (Juárez), Preciado Park (Las Cruces), and Rio Bosque Park (Socorro, TX).
Outside the metropolitan area there are major state and national parks in the vicinity. The most well-known of these is Big Bend National Park
, which is adjacent to Big Bend Ranch State Park
. Closer to the cities are Guadalupe Mountains National Park
, Lincoln National Forest
, and Gila National Forest
.
announced in an updated travel alert that "Mexican authorities report that more than 1,800 people have been killed in the city since January 2008." CNN listed the city among the ten most dangerous in the world in 2010. The deteriorating situation caused drastic changes in daily life for citizens in Juárez after 2008. the situation continues to be an area of intense focus for the governments of Mexico and the U.S.
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
, or conurbation
Conurbation
A conurbation is a region comprising a number of cities, large towns, and other urban areas that, through population growth and physical expansion, have merged to form one continuous urban and industrially developed area...
, on the border between Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The region is centered on two large cities: Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez , officially known today as Heroica Ciudad Juárez, but abbreviated Juárez and formerly known as El Paso del Norte, is a city and seat of the municipality of Juárez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Juárez's estimated population is 1.5 million people. The city lies on the Rio Grande...
, Chihuahua, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and El Paso
El Paso
El Paso, a city in the U.S. state of Texas, on the border with Mexico.El Paso may also refer to:-Geography:Colombia:* El Paso, CesarSpain:*El Paso, Santa Cruz de TenerifeUnited States:...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Additionally, nearby Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, also known as "The City of the Crosses", is the county seat of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 97,618 in 2010 according to the 2010 Census, making it the second largest city in the state....
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
is sometimes included as part of the region, referred to as El Paso–Juárez-Las Cruces or El Paso–Juárez-Southern New Mexico. At more than 2.3 million people this binational region is one of the largest cross-border metropolitan areas in the world.
This region is commonly subdivided into the Juárez Metropolitan Area (Zona Metropolitana de Juárez) and Greater El Paso, as well as Greater Las Cruces. These sub-regions are typically divided by state borders: Chihuahua, Texas, and New Mexico.
Communities
Juárez is by far the largest city in the region (population 1,400,891 as of 2005). El Paso is the next largest (613,190 as of 2008), and Las Cruces is the third largest (91,865 as of 2008).Some of the major suburbs are Fabens, Texas
Fabens, Texas
Fabens is a census-designated place in El Paso County, Texas, United States. The population was 8,043 at the 2000 census. It is part of the El Paso Metropolitan Statistical Area...
; Puerto de Anapra, Chihuahua; San Elizario, Texas
San Elizario, Texas
San Elizario is a census-designated place in El Paso County, Texas, United States. The population was 11,046 at the 2000 census. It is part of the El Paso Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
; Socorro, Texas
Socorro, Texas
Socorro is a city in El Paso County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 27,152. By the 2010 census, the number had grown to 32,013. It is part of the El Paso Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city was reactivated in 1986 and has been a working city since then...
; Sunland Park, New Mexico
Sunland Park, New Mexico
Sunland Park is a city in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 14,106 at the 2010 census. Though it lies directly across from El Paso, Texas, being in Doña Ana County makes it instead a part of the Las Cruces Metropolitan Statistical Area, some 30 miles to the north.The...
. Additionally there are many smaller communities in the area including Anthony, New Mexico
Anthony, New Mexico
Anthony is a city in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, USA. The population was 7,904 at the 2000 census. It is located on the New Mexico–Texas state line in the Upper Mesilla Valley, and on Interstate 10, 27 miles south of Las Cruces and 21 miles north of El Paso, Texas...
; Anthony, Texas
Anthony, Texas
Anthony is an incorporated town in El Paso County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,850 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Anthony is located at ....
; Canutillo, Texas
Canutillo, Texas
Canutillo is a census-designated place in El Paso County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,129 at the 2000 census. It is part of the El Paso Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Canutillo is located at ....
; Chaparral, New Mexico
Chaparral, New Mexico
Chaparral is a census-designated place in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 14,631 at the 2010 census. A portion of Chaparral is also in Otero County, New Mexico, United States....
; Horizon City, Texas
Horizon City, Texas
Horizon City is a city in El Paso County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,233 at the 2000 census and 13,043 at the 2008 census. It is part of the El Paso Metropolitan Statistical Area. Estimates for the 2010 census show the population at 16,735....
; Mesilla, New Mexico
Mesilla, New Mexico
Mesilla is a town in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 2,180 at the 2000 census...
; Santa Teresa, New Mexico
Santa Teresa, New Mexico
Santa Teresa is a census-designated place in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 2,607 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Las Cruces Metropolitan Statistical Area, although geographically it is considerably closer to El Paso, Texas than to Las Cruces.-Geography:Santa...
; University Park, New Mexico
University Park, New Mexico
University Park is a census-designated place in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 2,732 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Las Cruces Metropolitan Statistical Area...
; Vado, New Mexico
Vado, New Mexico
Vado is a census-designated place in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 3,003 at the 2000 census. As of 5 May 2010, its lone ZIP code is 88072, its telephone Area Code is 575, and it is part of the Las Cruces Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Vado is located at ...
; and Westway, Texas
Westway, Texas
Westway is a census-designated place in El Paso County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,829 at the 2000 census. It is part of the El Paso Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
History
The Franklin Mountains region has had human settlement for thousands of years, as evidenced by Folsom pointFolsom point
Folsom points are a distinct form of chipped stone projectile points associated with the Folsom Tradition of North America. The style of toolmaking was named after Folsom, New Mexico where the first sample was found within the bone structure of a bison in 1927....
s from hunter-gatherer
Hunter-gatherer
A hunter-gatherer or forage society is one in which most or all food is obtained from wild plants and animals, in contrast to agricultural societies which rely mainly on domesticated species. Hunting and gathering was the ancestral subsistence mode of Homo, and all modern humans were...
s found at Hueco Tanks
Hueco Tanks
Hueco Tanks is an area of low mountains in El Paso County, Texas, USA. It is located in a high-altitude desert basin between the Franklin Mountains to the west and the Hueco Mountains to the east. Hueco is a Spanish word meaning hollows and refers to the many water-holding depressions in the...
. The earliest known cultures in the region were maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
farmers. At the time of the arrival of the Spanish
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
the Manso
Manso Indians
The Manso Indians are a indigenous people who lived along the Rio Grande, near El Paso, Texas from the 16th to the 18th century. Their descendants remain in the area to this day....
, Suma, and Jumano
Suma-Jumano
The Suma and the Jumano were people in western Sonora and Trans-Pecos region of western Texas. The Suma was the western division and the Jumano were the eastern division.-History:...
tribes populated the area and today form the basis of the Mestizo
Mestizo
Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America, Philippines and Spain for people of mixed European and Native American heritage or descent...
culture in the area. The Mescalero Apache roamed the region as well.
Spanish explorer Don Juan de Oñate was the first European explorer to arrive at the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
near modern Juárez and El Paso in 1598, celebrating Thanksgiving Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
there on April 30, 1598 (several decades before the Pilgrims' Thanksgiving). El Paso del Norte (the present day Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez , officially known today as Heroica Ciudad Juárez, but abbreviated Juárez and formerly known as El Paso del Norte, is a city and seat of the municipality of Juárez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Juárez's estimated population is 1.5 million people. The city lies on the Rio Grande...
), was founded on the south bank of the Río Bravo del Norte, (Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
) in 1659 by Spanish conquistadors. The Mission of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe became its first major settlement. Being a grassland then, agriculture flourished and vineyards and fruits constituted the bulk of the regional production. The Spanish Crown and the local authorities of El Paso del Norte had made several land concessions to bring agricultural production to the northern bank of the river in present day El Paso. However, the Apaches dissuaded settlement and development across the river. The water provided a natural defense against them.
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
). It remained largest city in New Mexico until its north side was ceded to the US
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a package of five bills, passed in September 1850, which defused a four-year confrontation between the slave states of the South and the free states of the North regarding the status of territories acquired during the Mexican-American War...
in 1850. It communicated with Santa Fe and Mexico City by the Royal Road. American spies, traders and fur trappers visited the area since 1804 and some intermarried with the area's Hispanic elite. Although there was no combat in the region during the Mexican War of Independence, El Paso del Norte experienced the negative effects it had on its wine trade.
The Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
(1836) was not felt in the region as the area was never considered part of Texas until 1848. Given the blurry reclamations of the Texas Republic that wanted a chunk of the Santa Fe trade, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo effectively made the settlements on the north bank of the river a formal American settlement, separate from Old El Paso del Norte on the Mexican side. The present Texas-New Mexico boundary placing El Paso on the Texas side was drawn in the Compromise of 1850
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a package of five bills, passed in September 1850, which defused a four-year confrontation between the slave states of the South and the free states of the North regarding the status of territories acquired during the Mexican-American War...
.
The communities on both sides of the border continued to function, in large part, as a single community. The United States Senate fixed a boundary between Texas and New Mexico at the thirty-second parallel, thus largely ignoring history and topography. A military post called The Post opposite El Paso (meaning opposite El Paso del Norte, across the Rio Grande) was established in 1854. Further west, a settlement on Coons' Rancho called Franklin became the nucleus of the future El Paso, Texas. A year later pioneer Anson Mills
Anson Mills
Anson Mills was a United States Army officer, surveyor, inventor, and entrepreneur. Engaged in south Texas as a land surveyor and civil engineer, he both named and laid out the city of El Paso, Texas...
completed his plan of the town, calling it El Paso and the town was incorporated in 1873. During the French intervention in Mexico
French intervention in Mexico
The French intervention in Mexico , also known as The Maximilian Affair, War of the French Intervention, and The Franco-Mexican War, was an invasion of Mexico by an expeditionary force sent by the Second French Empire, supported in the beginning by the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Spain...
(1862–1867), El Paso del Norte served as a temporary stop for republican forces of rebel leader Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez born Benito Pablo Juárez García, was a Mexican lawyer and politician of Zapotec origin from Oaxaca who served five terms as president of Mexico: 1858–1861 as interim, 1861–1865, 1865–1867, 1867–1871 and 1871–1872...
until he established his government-in-exile in Chihuahua
Chihuahua, Chihuahua
The city of Chihuahua is the state capital of the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It has a population of about 825,327. The predominant activity is industry, including domestic heavy, light industries, consumer goods production, and to a smaller extent maquiladoras.-History:It has been said that the...
. In 1888, El Paso del Norte was renamed in honor of Juárez.
In the later 19th century the population in the region began to grow rapidly. With the arrival of the Southern Pacific
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
, Texas and Pacific
Texas and Pacific Railway
The Texas and Pacific Railway Company was created by federal charter in 1871 with the purpose of building a southern transcontinental railroad between Marshall, Texas, and San Diego, California....
and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroads in 1881, trade with the rest of the U.S. increased substantially. The area attracted newcomers ranging from businessmen and priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
s, to gunfighters and prostitutes. In the U.S. El Paso became known as the "Six Shooter Capital" because of its lawlessness. Prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
and gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
flourished. During World War I, the U.S. Department of the Army pressured El Paso authorities to crack down on vice, creating a tourist boom in Juárez whose vice businesses continued to thrive.
Mining and other industries gradually developed in the area. The 1920s and 1930s saw the emergence of major business development in the city partially enabled by Prohibition era bootlegging with the area becoming a significant port of entry for liquor. The Depression era hit the region hard and population declined through the end of World War II. Following the war, military expansion in the area as well as oil discoveries in the Texas Permian Basin helped spur redevelopment in the mid 1900s. Disparities in wages and cost of living between the U.S. and Mexico helped encourage many businesses to establish manufacturing operations in Mexico during the mid 20th century, thus making El Paso–Juárez an attractive location for manufacturing. The signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
(NAFTA) helped spur this trend even further.
Geography
Typical elevation in the El Paso–Juárez region is approximately 4000 feet (1,219.2 m) though the Franklin MountainsFranklin Mountains (Texas)
The Franklin Mountains of Texas are a small range that extend from El Paso, Texas north into New Mexico. The Franklins were formed due to crustal extension related to the Cenozoic Rio Grande rift...
which run through the region have peaks rising much higher. North Franklin Peak, for example, rises to 7192 feet (2,192.1 m).
The most well-known feature of the area is the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
which divides the U.S. from Mexico. The river flows through the Rio Grande Rift
Rio Grande Rift
The Rio Grande Rift is a north-trending continental rift zone. It separates the Colorado Plateau in the west from the interior of the North American craton on the east. The rift extends from central Colorado in the north to the state of Chihuahua, Mexico in the south. The rift zone consists of four...
, which passes around the southern end of the Franklin Mountains
Franklin Mountains (Texas)
The Franklin Mountains of Texas are a small range that extend from El Paso, Texas north into New Mexico. The Franklins were formed due to crustal extension related to the Cenozoic Rio Grande rift...
. West of Juárez and El Paso the river turns away from the border connecting these cities with Las Cruces.
Mt. Cristo Rey, a volcanic peak (an example of a pluton
Pluton
A pluton in geology is a body of intrusive igneous rock that crystallized from magma slowly cooling below the surface of the Earth. Plutons include batholiths, dikes, sills, laccoliths, lopoliths, and other igneous bodies...
) rises within the Rio Grande Rift
Rio Grande Rift
The Rio Grande Rift is a north-trending continental rift zone. It separates the Colorado Plateau in the west from the interior of the North American craton on the east. The rift extends from central Colorado in the north to the state of Chihuahua, Mexico in the south. The rift zone consists of four...
just to the west of El Paso on the New Mexico side
Doña Ana County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*74.1% White*1.7% Black*1.5% Native American*1.1% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.0% Two or more races*18.5% Other races*65.7% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
of the Rio Grande River. Other volcanic features include Kilbourne hole
Kilbourne Hole
Kilbourne Hole is a maar volcanic crater, located west of the Franklin mountains of El Paso, Texas, in the Potrillo Volcanic Field of Doña Ana County, New Mexico. Nearby Hunt's Hole lies several miles just south of Kilbourne Hole. These holes are rare examples of volcanic action without a...
and Hunt's hole, which are Maar volcanic craters 30 miles (50 km) west of the Franklin Mountains
Franklin Mountains (Texas)
The Franklin Mountains of Texas are a small range that extend from El Paso, Texas north into New Mexico. The Franklins were formed due to crustal extension related to the Cenozoic Rio Grande rift...
.
The area lies in the Chihuahuan Desert
Chihuahuan Desert
The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert, and an ecoregion designation, that straddles the U.S.-Mexico border in the central and northern portions of the Mexican Plateau, bordered on the west by the extensive Sierra Madre Occidental range, and overlaying northern portions of the east range, the Sierra...
, which itself is the easternmost section of the Basin and Range Region.
Climate
The area has an arid climate because it is located in the Chihuahuan desert. Seasons are less well defined than many areas in the United States. The area experiences hot summers, cool winters and a mild spring and fall. In Juárez the average high is 31 °C (87.8 °F) with lows of 17 °C (62.6 °F). The winter high is 14 °C (57.2 °F) with lows of 1 °C (33.8 °F). Because of the high altitude the region is cooler than many desert areas in MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and the American Southwest. Rainfall is very scarce but it is more prominent in the summer months. Snowfall is not a rare event—it normally snows once or twice every winter.
Economy
El Paso–Juárez is a major center for manufacturing and international trade. It is the largest port of entry on the U.S./Mexico border. The region is also the second most important trade point on the border and the 16th largest trading center in the U.S. In 2000 approximately US$33 billion dollars in trade took place in the region.the region holds offices for more than 70 Fortune 500
Fortune 500
The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 U.S. closely held and public corporations as ranked by their gross revenue after adjustments made by Fortune to exclude the impact of excise taxes companies collect. The list includes publicly and...
companies. It is also home to more than 320 manufacturing plants (those in Juárez are commonly referred to as maquiladora
Maquiladora
A maquiladora or maquila is a concept often referred to as an operation that involves manufacturing in a country that is not the client's and as such has an interesting duty or tariff treatment...
s) and more than 1,100 manufacturing operations total. The largest sectors of manufacturing are automobiles and automobile components, and consumer electronic components. Apparel and textile manufacturing, though, are important sectors as well, particularly north of the border. The area employs approximately 262,000 people in manufacturing with 85% of those in Juárez. Many of the workers in Juárez, however, live in the United States.
An important pillar of the economy of El Paso has been Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas. With an area of about , it is the Army's second-largest installation behind the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. It is FORSCOM's largest installation, and has the Army's largest Maneuver Area behind the...
and Biggs Army Airfield
Biggs Army Airfield
Biggs Army Airfield or Biggs AAF is a military airport located at Fort Bliss near El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, in the United States. The airfield was previously Biggs Air Force Base, a Strategic Air Command installation, between 1947 and 1966. The U.S. Army began operations supporting Ft...
. Since frontier days military spending, directly and indirectly, has provided a significant source of money to El Paso and to the region as a whole. the economic impact of Fort Bliss is estimated at more than US$1 billion. Fort Bliss is currently planning a US$4.5 billion expansion that will substantially impact the area economy.
Call centers are additionally major employers in El Paso and neighboring communities in the U.S.
A recent development that is expected to create new economic opportunities in the area is the planned creation of a full medical school in El Paso as part of the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Campus
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Campus is a branch of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, Texas. It has been in operation since 1969.-History:...
.
Regional cooperation
Though the national boundaries are an important point of separation, efforts at regional planning and economic integration exist in the local governments and the business communities. Regional business advocacy groups such as El Paso Regional Economic Development Corporation and World Trade Center El Paso/Juárez serve to attract businesses to the area and market its benefits. Efforts at community and environmental cooperation including the Paso del Norte Clean Cities Coalition exist as well. proposals are being discussed at the regional level to create passenger rail systems connecting El Paso with Juárez.Education
The largest universities in the region are the University of Texas at El PasoUniversity of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Texas System. Its campus is located on the bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. The school was founded in 1914 as The Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy,...
and the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez (Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez). These universities have strong ties to each other (as well as to the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua
Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua
The Autonomous University of Chihuahua is a Mexican public university based in the city of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, but with several campuses across the state.-References:...
) with formal programs of exchange for scholars and students. New Mexico State University in Las Cruces is an additional major university in the area.
Other area colleges include Universidad Tecnológica de Ciudad Juárez (Technological University of Ciudad Juárez), Western Technical College
Western Technical College
Western Technical College is part of the Wisconsin Technical College System. The main campus is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin.The school was previously known as Western Wisconsin Technical College , but the "Wisconsin" part of the name was officially dropped on March 29, 2006.-Other...
-El Paso, and Vista College (El Paso and Las Cruces). El Paso Community College and Doña Ana Community College provide supplemental higher-education opportunities for students in the region.
Community contact
Until the 1920s and 1930s the communities of Juárez and El Paso enjoyed largely unfettered access to one another maintaining a sense of unity. ProhibitionProhibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
brought about more strict enforcement of the border in this region making access between the communities more difficult. Nevertheless, the communities have continued to share ethnic and cultural bonds particularly as economic integration in the later 20th century has re-opened much of the access between the communities. Even today the cities still see themselves as a single, closely tied community.
The violence in Juárez that erupted in 2008–2009 has forced the U.S. to tighten its policies regarding allowing Juárez residents access to El Paso. Tourists, workers, and students who were once allowed regular access across the border have been restricted to much tighter schedules for travel.
Parks and recreation
The area is home to numerous parks and venues for outdoor recreation. The 24000 acres (9,712.5 ha) Franklin Mountains State ParkFranklin Mountains State Park
Franklin Mountains State Park is a Texas state park in El Paso, Texas in the United States. It is at an elevation of . It is the largest urban park in the nation lying completely within city limits, covering...
in El Paso is the largest urban park in the United States. Other urban parks in the area include Ascarate Park (El Paso), Parque Central (Juárez), Parque Chamizal (Juárez), Preciado Park (Las Cruces), and Rio Bosque Park (Socorro, TX).
Outside the metropolitan area there are major state and national parks in the vicinity. The most well-known of these is Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is a national park located in the U.S. state of Texas. Big Bend has national significance as the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States, which includes more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 56...
, which is adjacent to Big Bend Ranch State Park
Big Bend Ranch State Park (Texas)
Big Bend Ranch State Park is a state park located on the Rio Grande in Brewster County and Presidio County, Texas. It is the largest state park in Texas. The closest major town is Presidio, Texas, where the state park's head office is located.-Features:...
. Closer to the cities are Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is located in the Guadalupe Mountains of West Texas and contains Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas at in elevation. It also contains El Capitan, long used as a landmark by people traveling along the old route later followed by the Butterfield Overland...
, Lincoln National Forest
Lincoln National Forest
The Lincoln National Forest is a protected national forest in the State of New Mexico in the southwestern United States. It was established in 1902 and covers 1,103,828 acres...
, and Gila National Forest
Gila National Forest
The Gila National Forest is a protected national forest in New Mexico in the southwestern United States established in 1905. It covers approximately 3.3 million acres of public land, making it the sixth largest National Forest in the continental United States...
.
Crime and safety
Violent crime has been an increasingly serious issue in the region since the 1990s. Though violent crime on the U.S. side of the border has not grown severely, murders in Juárez related to the drug cartels began to grow rapidly after 2000. In 2008, officials reported more than 5,400 drug-related murders in Mexico, many in and near Juárez. On 20 February 2009, the U.S. State DepartmentUnited States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
announced in an updated travel alert that "Mexican authorities report that more than 1,800 people have been killed in the city since January 2008." CNN listed the city among the ten most dangerous in the world in 2010. The deteriorating situation caused drastic changes in daily life for citizens in Juárez after 2008. the situation continues to be an area of intense focus for the governments of Mexico and the U.S.