As mothers, we always look for what is best when it comes to raising our children. We want them to live a beautiful childhood and life. An essential aspect of ensuring they do is deciding WHERE to raise them, and location is crucial.
We hear the phrase “It takes a village” often; well, let me tell you that El Paso, Texas, also known as the “Sun City,” is perfect for that job.
Being born and raised in the Sun City, I am proud to raise my children in the town where I grew up, and here are ten reasons why:
1. A Border City Times Two
Yes, El Paso, Texas, is a border city times two! It is found right on the Mexican border alongside the Rio Grande and also borders the state of New Mexico in the town of Las Cruces. Going out of the country or to a different state could not be any easier. You can take the kids to explore our lovely sister cities of Ciudad, Juarez, and Las Cruces, New Mexico, to places like White Sands and the Carlsbad Caverns, amongst many other nearby southwest areas to explore.
As a little girl, I would cross the bridge to attend church and visit my family in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and I remember what an experience it was to be able to cross to another country and to a different landscape so easily yet always feeling at home. Living in the Sun City really is a unique bi-national, bi-cultural, tri-state experience.
2. The Mountain and Desert Scenery
El Paso is located at the base of the Franklin Mountains and in the Chihuahuan Desert. Imagine driving down the interstate and seeing beautiful mountains as the scenery. It is beyond fantastic! If you drive through Transmountain Road, you even get to experience the mountains up close! There are several picnic tables along the road for the family. How amazing is that? And the deserty mountains do look beautiful up close . . . but wait, there’s more! Drive up to Scenic Drive for an overlook of our lovely city. It’s the whole package! Tom Lea Park, located nearby, is a perfect spot for the kids to have fun too.
3. Diversity and Culture
An absolute favorite reason I love my city is that it is home to a unique blend of cultures and language. Although El Paso is mainly Mexican-American with over an 80% Hispanic population, it encompasses a beautifully-blended population of Native Americans (the Tigua tribe in Ysleta del Sur), Mexicans, Spaniards, and Americans, mixed with immigrants from nations around the globe and even more diversity housed in our military base of Fort Bliss. There are dual-language immersion programs at many of the area schools. You can also always find good music everywhere you go, with one of my favorites being the Mariachis.
Being born Latina, I feel like I can thrive and be who I am. Puedo hablar Espanol, mi lengua materna, and I can also speak English, the language that taught me as I grew up. My children are learning to communicate in two languages, and my parents always told me que “una persona bilingue vale por dos” (a person who speaks two languages is twice as valuable).
4. The Sun City Embraces History
El Paso is a landscape of history that makes us who we are. The city was established in March 1850, and it is rich in history. It’s fun and exciting to teach the kids about the wonderful city they live in because it is made up of multiple historic districts, museums, galleries, and missions filled with stories and cuentos. As El Pasoans, we pride ourselves in our heritage. There are many events and festivals that occur throughout the year that reflect this pride. Family-friendly events like Viva! El Paso teach us the story of our wonderful city.
5. Rich Cuisine
Ok, don’t even get me started on the food. I am definitely such a foodie, so I was born in the right place. Because it is located between Mexico and New Mexico, the Sun City is an exciting culinary destination, and we sure love to break bread together. The El Paso-style cuisine draws from its Mexican heritage, offering a variety of authentic Mexican food to the blending of Tex-Mex flavors. Our mamas and abuelas definitely have the best recipes and blends of flavors in the Sun City!
However, Mexican style is not all that El Paso offers. The city is so diverse that you will not long for any kind of food. From Italian meals to BBQs to Chinese food, the people of El Paso take pride in offering various eating atmospheres and price ranges. I’m sure you’ll find the best food trucks in this city too. It is a fun experience rich in flavors for the family! Here are border food recommendations from my fellow El Paso Moms contributors:
The Best Places for Brunch in the El Paso Area
The Best Pizza Places in El Paso & Las Cruces
Borderland Burger Joints :: The Best Burgers in El Paso & Beyond
6. Many Attractions to Visit
The Sun City is home to many beautiful attractions like the iconic Star on the Mountain, Southwest University Stadium, The Municipal Rose Garden, the El Paso Zoo, El Paso Downtown District, Scenic Drive, Cattleman’s Ranch, El Paso High School (oldest high school, over 100 years!), San Jacinto Plaza, Red Sands, Transmountain Road, Castner Range, and the Tramway, amongst many others!
7. The Weather
Ok, it’s hard writing this now in the middle of the summer while battling 103°F heat, BUT let me tell you El Paso weather is great! We are called the “Sun City” for a reason; the climate here is almost always sunny! With 300 days of sunshine in the year, the summers are hot (temperatures sometimes go above 100° F but below 110° F), and the winters are short and cold (daytime temperatures usually remain in the 50s). The natural hazard rate is low due to the desert climate we live in. That means no tornadoes, forest fires, tsunamis, hurricanes, or potential similar risks. The worse weather I have experienced as an El Pasoan has been extreme heat in the summer, and about twice in my life, severe winter weather. Both conditions were solved by having the family stay in the comfort of our home.
8. Affordable Cost of Living
As a stay-at-home mom, this one is important to me. Compared to other metropolitan areas, El Paso offers an affordable cost of living at 3% lower than the state average and 10% lower than the national average. Additionally, housing prices are also affordable at 22% lower than the national average. A big perk, too, is no state income tax. Regardless of being a working mom or a stay-at-home mom, all mamas know having babies can be expensive! Another reason why raising kids in El Paso is a great option.
9. The Unique Take on Education/Educación
This one is a big one, and I am not talking about scholarly education only. (But since we are on the subject, El Paso prides itself in providing educational opportunities to its diverse bodies of students. With increasing education attainment percentages over the years, El Paso embodies the value of education as the pathway to opportunity through its multiple public schools, charter schools, private schools, colleges, and universities.)
Nevertheless, education is not all about books in our city. This city is also known for its hospitality and community cultural wealth. We are raised to see education from a different lens. My parents taught me the value of having educación, which entails: working hard, having manners, staying humble, respecting authority, and being kind to others. Furthermore, the people of this city offer you a warm smile, greet you, open the door for you, and you can count on a lending hand to help.
Perfect example: just the other day, when an elderly man was having car troubles, my husband (along with another good samaritan) pushed the car through an intersection stop light for him. It was natural for my husband to feel the need to help him, and that made me realize how great the people of El Paso are. It is part of our term educación. Our parents and grandparents really teach us well, and it is generational.
10. A Safe City
For some time now, El Paso has been ranked as one of the safest cities in the U.S. It currently stands as the city with the third-lowest violent crime rate and second-lowest property crime rate in the nation. The large military presence from Ft. Bliss, strong border security, and engaged citizens who take pride in their communities make the Sun City a remarkably safe place to raise a family in. You can never be too safe! This is another reason why I love my city!
Honestly, I can name so many more reasons why I love my city, and I am so proud to raise my children in the town that raised me. Altogether, you should raise your kids in El Paso if you want them to grow up in a loving community. Whether you are a native El Pasoan or new to town, be proud of where you’ve landed. After all, we are El Paso Strong!
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of El Paso Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.
I absolutely love this! I couldn’t agree more.
El Paso is a Big little city and continues to grow.
It really is a beautiful growing city! Thank you!