El Paso, TX Reviews

El Paso, a geographical oddity...... - 6/4/2006
While El Paso lies across the Rio Grande from Ciudad Juarez, a large Mexican city noted for recent crime woes, there is a great deal of alternate culture on the American side. One of the primary resources to this conglomeration of culture is the fact that Fort Bliss, one of the largest army installations, lies literally in the heart of the city's northeast. There are soldiers from several nations stationed here while attending the army's only academy for the command sergeant majors. Soldiers from the Middle East, Europe and elsewhere attend right alongside our own. It is interesting to realize that there is a vast array of choices in cuisine here- it's not all refried beans and tortillas like one might expect(although we do have some of the best doggone Mexican food around!).... There is great local influence from local Native American Tribes, including the Tigua Indians and the Mescalero Apache. There are several museums in the area, several focusing on military history. Other Read More

A place to enjoy retierment with culture in 2 coun - 5/26/2006
El Paso is fast becoming a place with growth and wonder. It is the perfect retierment place for the baby boomers. It is close to Mexico and New Mexico, with all the wonders of the Mexican and Spanish cultures. The cost of living is one of the lowest in the US. The city and it's surrondings are in a growth stage, with new subdivions, stores, schools, theaters, and businesses. Not to mention the inexpensive health care just over the border in Mexico, thats making the area a place for retiered Baby Boomers. Real estate has gone up 40% in the last 2 years and it's been caused by the military expandsion at Fort Bliss, Homeland security, investors from California, and of course the Baby Read More

El Paso Accepts Everybody - 4/7/2006
I grew up as an Army brat here, coming from Chicago at age six. I since left and came back multiple times. Now I'm considering moving away again now that I have seen the world. My husband and I want to teach our children the perspective of why one should 'leave your own backyard' so you can be a well rounded person. I think the charm about this place is the lack of racism, the need for competition in the workforce and its general do-as-you-want lifestyle.
Unfortunately, some people consider those qualities to be a threat to thier fragile egos and negative self image (see anonymus comments). If this person hates to hear another language spoken in her presence she should ask herself why SHE CHOOSES to remain so ignorant. If she thinks El Pasoans are dumb,rude gangsters, then this is the perfect place for Read More

El Paso is not that bad, it just has an image prob - 4/7/2006
I grew up as an Army brat here, coming from Chicago at age six. I since left and came back multiple times. Now I'm considering moving away again now that I have seen the world. My husband and I want to teach our children the perspective of why one should 'leave your own backyard' so you can be a well rounded person. I think the charm about this place is the lack of racism, the fierce competition in the workforce and its general do-as-you-want lifestyle.
Unfortunately, some people consider those qualities to be a threat to thier fragile egos and negative self image (see anonymus comments). If this person hates to hear another language spoken in her presence she should ask herself why SHE CHOOSES to remain so ignorant. If she thinks El Pasoans are dumb,rude, gangsters then this is the perfect place for her self hating attitude.
P.S. Eating home made meals is healthier and relieves Read More

Mediocre - 4/3/2006
If you can be satisfied with mediocrity--El Paso is the place for you. Tucked away in a forgotten corner of Texas, El Paso has been in search of its identity for decades. Still manages to be a place thousands drive right through on I-10 as they treck from east to west across the nation.

Education is horrible--if your child comes home from school safely at the end of the day, that is the best you can hope for. Avoid the Northeast, gang & violence-ridden high schools. The inability of fast food joints to correctly fill the simplest drive-through order is evidence of the poor quality of education in this city.

El Pasoans are nice and polite, superficially. Don't think twice when fluently bilingual friends and acquaintances choose to converse only in Spanish with others as you sit by--they are not talking about you. They just don't know better. Similarly, in busy stores, when people block the aisles and seem oblivious that you are trying to pass Read More

Mediocre - 4/2/2006
My family has lived here for almost 15 years. To live here happily: learn to embrace mediocrity or be constantly frustrated. Regarding education: if your high school child makes it through the day safely--that's about the best you can hope for. Avoid the Northeast schools--they are the absolute worst for gang violence on a daily basis. Not that it makes the paper very often . . . it's just an accepted fact of life. For a taste of the frustration that educators in local schools encounter, read some of the columns by local teacher, Ramnath Subramanian, in the El Paso Times online. The local newspaper is, however, also mediocre. It takes about 5 minutes to skim. Local politics--have been pretty horrid over the last decade. Watch the city council or county commissioners on TV and you will see a comedy of errors. Such a bunch of uninformed legislators--but we have few voters turning out at election time and a bad habit of straight-party voters no matter what. Healthcare across Read More

El Paso, Tx - 4/1/2006
A great little city, friendly people, and a low cost of Read More

Reconsider - 3/26/2006
El Paso, Tx is not all bad. It has a nice climate, if you like HOT. But El Paso is Land locked, the closet large city is 4-6 hours away. Jobs are hard to find here. And unless you know Spanish, you wont find anything at all. El Paso already has major traffic problems, and with 40-80 thousand more military families coming to El Paso by 2008, the roads will be heck to traverse. And any job opertunities will be even harder to find. El Paso has little to any green, like grass trees etc.. and the Rio-grand is about empty since New Mexico has it all damed up, Mexicans can just walk across without any effort at all. Gang activity is on the rise, and the low economy also breads many projects and crime activities. Crime is also on the rise, Home prices are also on the rise, homes near where I live are in the 160-240 thousand range, where they used to be 40-60K. The Local area public schools are a joke and education is poor. El Paso, is 77% hispanic arcording to various web sites.. but that is Read More

Born And Raised - 3/26/2006
I was born in El Paso TX, have lived here most my life. The City has its nice points, for instance the weather is warm and dry. I guess thats why they call us the SUN CITY. Violent Crime seems to be low, but is on the rise. Fort Bliss Army post is growing by leaps and bounds. The cost of living here is very low, but if your looking for work, good luck. being so close to the border, you will need to know Spanish to find employment even at the local burger joints. With some 40-80 thousands military familes coming to the area by 2008, the already congested roads will be hell to traverse, and hopes of any employment on or off post will be even harder to find. Gang activity is also on the rise, with nightly news reports of gang violence and graffeti. The schools here are aweful, unless you go private schools, but most of them are catholic schools. Unless you have to move here as part of a Military move, I would reconsider moving here. Yes there are worse places in the world to live, but Read More

El Paso Is A Good Place To lIve - 2/22/2006
Lived in El Paso for seven years, and found it to be a great overall place to live. There is a fair amount of poverty, a common border condition, but there is also much opportunity. The climate is fantastic. The people are laid-back, friendly and open to a variety of backgrounds. Homes are very reasonably-priced and the general cost of living is low. UTEP is a great Division I university and growing quickly.Read More