El Paso is in the westernmost tip of Texas, on the Rio Grande – the frontier between the United States and Mexico – and directly across the river from Juarez. New York City is 2,205 miles northeast, Miami 2,005 miles southeast and Los Angeles 805 miles northwest. The region was first explored by the Spaniard Cabeza de Vaca in 1536 and in 1598 a settlement was made, only to be destroyed by the Indians.
In 1659 anoter Spanish settlement was set up but gradually dwindled away; in 1827, when still another start was made, the El Paso region was known simply as Ponce de Leon Ranch. ın 1845, the new town, called Franklin, became US territory as a result of the Mexican War and in 1858 was renamed El Paso, for the nearby pass throgh the Rocky Mountains called El Paso del Norte – the pass to the north. It was incorporated as a city in 1873 and in 1881, with the coming of the railroads, El Paso began to boom. It became a ‘Western’ town in true Hollywood style, complete with gamblers, Bad Men and frequent shootings. But lawlessness gradually subsided and today El Paso is a respectable business and tourist center.
El Paso is an international city and much of the population speaks Spanish – traffic signs and newspaper advertising are bilingual. There is a mingling of Western and Latin charm in this city and its people are very friendly and adept at making strangers feel at home.
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