Overview of El Paso History

The inhabited history of the El Paso area extends back thousands and thousands of years when the prehistoric ancestors of the Pueblo Indian Tribes settled primarily along the banks of the Rio Grande River. Their villages spread from northern New Mexico to Texas.

The documented history of El Paso began with the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in 1581 seeking the riches of gold and claiming new territory for Spain. Having arrived from the south to the southern banks of the Rio Grande, they named the area “El Paso del Norte” which in Spanish means “the pass of the north”. Actually the first area settlement being on the south side of the Rio Grande would become in modern times… Cuidad Juarez, Mexico, the sister-city of modern day El Paso, Texas, which lies on the northern (US) side of the Rio Grande River.

Rapid colonization of El Paso del Norte began in 1598 when Juan de Ornate brought the first settlers to the area taking formal possession of the area for Spain. Further growth took place in 1680 when the Pueblo Indians of the New Mexico area rebelled against Spanish settlers in northern New Mew Mexico and forced the Spanish to flee to El Paso del Norte. Read more about the “Pueblo Revolt of Santa Fe”.

About 12 years later many of the Spanish returned to the Santa Fe area as the Spanish Army reclaimed that area. Other previously displaced Spanish settlers remained at El Paso del Norte.

By 1682, the area on the south banks of the Rio Grande had expanded to four other settlement communities besides El Paso del Norte including San Lorenzo, Senecú, Ysleta and Socorro. Fueled by a commerce of agriculture and mining, this area which would eventually become part of Mexico that grew dramatically particularly after the “Camino Real” ( Royal Highway) connected with the Santa Fe Trail to create a major trade route into Mexico. During this period of expansion, the north side of the Rio Grande began also to rapidly grow with settlers. This settlement would eventually become El Paso, Texas in modern times.

In 1821 Mexico won its independence from Spain and the entire territory including what was to become the state of Texas were all claimed by Mexico. During the Mexican American War in 1846 fierce battles between the United States and Mexico for control over the area occurred. With the signing of “The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo” on February 2, 1848, the settlement on the north side of the Rio Grande became a part of Texas which became a territory of the United States. That settlement became El Paso, Texas. Its sister-settlement of El Paso del Norte eventually became the thriving Mexico city of Cuidad Juarez through a name change.

Today El Paso, Texas and Cuidad Juarez, Chichuahua, Mexico lie just across the river from each other separated by a bridge. Together they share the largest border crossing between Mexico and the United States.

Although belonging to two different countries, the residents of both cities share a rich history with similar cultures and traditions. Through many generations, relatives of differing citizenships confirm the tight bond between the close-knit cities. Together it is the combination of El Paso and Cuidad Juarez that attracts millions of visitors to the area each year.

Come and experience the colonial architecture and museums that exist on both sides of the river. The festive environments are indeed the attraction. Click here to make convenient hotel reservations in El Paso Texas.

Helpful Informative Links
El Paso Convention & Visitors Bureau
Juarez Tourism
El Paso Historical Society
History of Cuidad Juarez