About El Paso

El Paso is geographically divided into several parts with the Franklin Mountains and Fort Bliss cutting the city into distinct sections. Each area has its own style and culture. El Paso is a diverse community featuring many different kinds of people. The largest language spoken at home is Spanish, followed by English. Many older El Pasoans speak Spanish regularly in public and it is helpful, although usually not necessary, to understand the language. El Paso was formerly known as El Paso del Norte (The Pass of the North) and was named by Spanish travelers in 1581. El Paso is part of the Chihuahuan Desert. With over 320 sunny days annually, El Paso is one of the sunniest places in the United States. Winters are mild with occasional snowfall, while summers are hot and dry. El Paso has desert gardens, a zoo, and several museums and art galleries. As of July 1, 2014, the population estimate from the U.S. Census was 679,036. There are many cultural and arts festivals during the summer months.