El Paso County, Texas
U.S. County|
county = El Paso County|
state = Texas |
seal = El Paso County tx seal.gif |
map = Map of Texas highlighting El Paso County.png |
map size = 250|
founded = |
seat =
El Paso | area = 2,628
km² (1,015
mi²) |
area land = 2,624 km² (1,013 mi²) |
area water = 4 km² (2 mi²) |
area percentage = 0.15% |
census yr = 2000|
pop = 679,622 |
density = 259|
web = www.epcounty.com|}}
El Paso County is a
county located in the
U.S. state of
Texas. According to the
2005 U.S. Census population estimates, the county had a population of 721,598. Its
county seat is
El Paso6. El Paso is named for the pass (the English translation) the
Rio Grande creates flowing through the mountains on either side of the river.
The county lies at the western-most tip of
Texas, bounded by the
Rio Grande River to the west and south, and is so far west of the rest of the state that it lies in another time zone while its residents rarely speak with the
Texas Twang.
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,628
km² (1,015
mi²). 2,624 km² (1,013 mi²) of it is land and 4 km² (2 mi²) of it (0.15%) is water.
Adjacent counties
*
Otero County, New Mexico (north)
*
Hudspeth County (east)
*
Dona Ana County, New Mexico (northwest)The
Mexican state of
Chihuahua lies to the south.
As of the
census² of 2000, there were 679,622 people, 210,022 households, and 166,127 families residing in the county. The
population density was 259/km² (671/mi²). There were 224,447 housing units at an average density of 86/km² (222/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.95%
White, 3.06%
Black or
African American, 0.82%
Native American, 0.98%
Asian, 0.10%
Pacific Islander, 17.91% from
other races, and 3.19% from two or more races. 78.23% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race.
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.
El Paso County was one of the very few counties in Texas to vote Democrat. Voters in the county chose Senator
John Kerry over
George W. Bush, 94,879 to 73,046.
Cities
*
El Paso*
Horizon City*
SocorroTowns
*
Anthony*
ClintVillages
*
VintonUnincorporated areas
*
El Paso County in Handbook of Texas Online at the
University of Texas
