City of El Paso

El Paso

Perhaps the epitome of the “Wild West” with numerous saloons, brothels, and gambling houses, El Paso was known as “Six Shooter Capital” and “Sin City” during its early years. The arrival of the railroads in 1881 had the biggest impact on El Paso in terms of transforming the dusty village to a bustling frontier town. By 1900, vice and lawlessness started to wane as El Paso evolved into a modern metropolis with significant industry, commerce, and transportation. The 1912 Fort Worth–El Paso Highway, designated part of the Bankhead Highway six years later, boosted the economy with an influx of business and tourists. El Paso stories, old and new, can be found not only in its many museums, but also just driving the streets of the city. The El Paso Mission Trail, El Segundo Barrio, and Concordia Cemetery are just a few of the places that will help you learn about the diverse populations and enterprises of the westernmost city of the Texas Bankhead Highway.