El Paso County, Texas

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El Paso County
County
El Paso Skyline.jpg
El Paso skyline
Flag of El Paso County, Texas.svg
Flag
El Paso County tx seal.png
Seal
Map of Texas highlighting El Paso County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas in United States.svg
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°46′N106°14′W / 31.77°N 106.24°W / 31.77; -106.24
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Texas.svg  Texas
Founded1871
Seat El Paso
Largest cityEl Paso
Area
 • Total1,015 sq mi (2,630 km2)
 • Land1,013 sq mi (2,620 km2)
 • Water2.3 sq mi (6 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total865,657
 • Density850/sq mi (330/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districts 16th, 23rd
Website www.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]

Contents

El Paso is short for "El Paso del Norte", which is Spanish for "The Pass 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

El Paso is on the US-Mexico border US-Mexico border fence.jpg
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

National protected area

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860 4,051—
1870 3,671−9.4%
1880 3,8454.7%
1890 15,678307.8%
1900 24,88658.7%
1910 52,599111.4%
1920 101,87793.7%
1930 131,59729.2%
1940 131,067−0.4%
1950 194,96848.8%
1960 314,07061.1%
1970 359,29114.4%
1980 479,89933.6%
1990 591,61023.3%
2000 679,62214.9%
2010 800,64717.8%
2020 865,6578.1%
2022 (est.)868,763 [10] 0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [11]
1850–2010 [12] 2010 [13] 2020 [14]
El Paso County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / EthnicityPop 2010 [13] Pop 2020 [14] % 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)105,24698,21913.15%11.35%
Black or African American alone (NH)20,64924,4152.58%2.82%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)2,2692,3650.28%0.27%
Asian alone (NH)7,55110,6920.94%1.24%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)8051,5270.10%0.18%
Some Other Race alone (NH)6022,4220.08%0.28%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)5,39110,6660.67%1.23%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)658,134715,35182.20%82.64%
Total800,647865,657100.00%100.00%

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 can be of any race.

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 [15] 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

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 ]

United States presidential election results for El Paso County, Texas [16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 84,33131.56%178,12666.66%4,7581.78%
2016 55,51225.71%147,84368.47%12,5675.82%
2012 57,15033.09%112,95265.40%2,6011.51%
2008 61,78333.28%122,02165.73%1,8260.98%
2004 73,26143.20%95,14256.11%1,1700.69%
2000 57,57439.69%83,84857.81%3,6202.50%
1996 43,25532.11%83,96462.33%7,4915.56%
1992 47,22434.94%67,71550.10%20,22414.96%
1988 55,57346.79%62,62252.72%5860.49%
1984 66,11455.83%51,91743.84%3990.34%
1980 53,27653.53%40,08240.27%6,1686.20%
1976 42,69747.72%45,47750.83%1,2911.44%
1972 49,98160.15%32,43539.04%6740.81%
1968 30,34744.55%32,65847.94%5,1117.50%
1964 20,68736.99%35,05062.67%1900.34%
1960 21,55145.20%26,02754.59%990.21%
1956 18,53254.70%15,15744.73%1930.57%
1952 20,00557.74%14,59542.12%470.14%
1948 5,54425.85%15,34171.53%5632.62%
1944 2,07213.18%11,42672.69%2,22014.12%
1940 3,76423.28%12,37476.55%270.17%
1936 1,77312.84%11,92086.32%1160.84%
1932 2,84119.74%11,33678.77%2151.49%
1928 6,05049.74%6,11450.26%00.00%
1924 4,07835.99%6,22054.90%1,0329.11%
1920 4,07049.12%4,14350.00%730.88%
1916 1,77032.08%3,60365.30%1452.63%
1912 2917.21%2,91472.18%83220.61%

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office is headquartered in an unincorporated area in El Paso County. [17] At one point it was headquartered within the City of El Paso. [18] The Leo Samaniego Law Enforcement Complex is adjacent to the sheriff's office headquarters. [19]

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. [20] 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), [21] 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. [22] Leon and Perez were first elected to their positions in 2012, were re-elected in 2016, [23] 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. [24]

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. [25] [26]

United States Congress

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

Texas Legislature

Texas Senate

DistrictNamePartyFirst ElectedArea(s) of El Paso County Represented
 29 Cesar Blanco Democratic 2020Entirety of El Paso County

Texas House of Representatives

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

County government

El Paso County elected officials

PositionNameParty
 County JudgeRicardo Samaniego Democratic
 Commissioner, Precinct 1Carlos Leon Democratic
 Commissioner, Precinct 2David Stout Democratic
 Commissioner, Precinct 3Iliana Houglin Democratic
 Commissioner, Precinct 4Sergio Cornando Democratic
 District AttorneyBill D. Hicks Republican
 District ClerkNorma Favela Barceleau Democratic
 County AttorneyJo Anne Bernal Democratic
 County ClerkDelia Briones Democratic
 SheriffRichard D. Wiles Democratic
 Tax Assessor-CollectorRuben P. Gonzalez Democratic
 Constable, Precinct 1Oscar Ugarte Democratic
 Constable, Precinct 2Danny T. Zamora Democratic
 Constable, Precinct 3Hector J. Bernal Democratic
 Constable, Precinct 4Luis Aguilar Democratic
 Constable, Precinct 5Manny Lopez Democratic
 Constable, Precinct 6, Place 1 & 2Javier Garcia Democratic
 Constable, Precinct 7Humberto "Beto" Enriquez Democratic

Communities

Cities

Towns

Village

Census-designated places

Military Base

Unincorporated communities

Economy

As of 2021, El Paso County had a total GDP of around $30 billion and $35,000 per capita. [27]

Education

School districts include: [28]

All of the county is in the service area of El Paso Community College. [29]

See also

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References

  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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  17. ↑ "Contact Us Archived 2009-07-20 at the Wayback Machine ." El Paso County Sheriff's Office. Retrieved on December 6, 2009.
  18. ↑ "Administration Division." El Paso County Sheriff's Office. April 5, 2001. Retrieved on December 6, 2009.
  19. ↑ "Communications Department Archived 2010-01-04 at the Wayback Machine ." El Paso County. Retrieved on December 6, 2009.
  20. ↑ "County Commissioners Maps". Epcountyvotes.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  21. ↑ "County of el Paso Texas - County Judge".
  22. ↑ "Commissioners choose County Judge Veronica Escobar's chief of staff to replace her". elpasotimes.com.
  23. ↑ "Commissioners Leon, Perez sworn in to second term". elpasotimes.com.
  24. ↑ "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.
  25. ↑ "Forty Years Ago". El Paso Times. November 14, 1952. p. 6. Retrieved December 2, 2019– via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ Longo, Joseph (Spring 2016). "Early El Paso Women Political Pioneers: 1912-1952". Password. 60 (1): 15.
  27. ↑ "GDP by county in 2021" (PDF).
  28. ↑ "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
  29. ↑ Texas Education Code, Section 130.178, "El Paso County Community College District Service Area".

31°46′N106°14′W / 31.77°N 106.24°W / 31.77; -106.24

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