What's it like to live in El Paso?

Question

My boyfriend is in the military and he wants me to move there with him. I've heard the city is extremely run down. I've also heard people say that many of the residents are extremely poor because they just came from over the border.

Is that true?

Answer 1

I live in El Paso and well that is not true.

If you live on places like the eastside, or westside those are where the nicer neighborhoods are and where the brand new homes are built.

The poorer areas are in central El Paso, and downtown.

Only some sections are "run-down". The west side is the "richest" area of El Paso and mostly white people live there.

If you live closer to the boarder like downtown or central, then yes you will see more people who have just come over the boarder from Mexico.

Look around and you will see some really nice houses.

Downtown has some really great stores. I like to go there on the weekends and do some shopping. There are also very great museums there. It's nice and even though most of the people there don't speak English, they are nice. I have elderly people tell me "Buenas Noches" which means good evening, as they are walking down the street. It's very pretty and it's great to walk around there on a sunny day. I usually take the public bus there on the weekends if I don't have any other ride.

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/1/18/El_paso_downtown_main.jpg


PS-

You will not have to speak Spanish. That is rediculous. El Paso is in America not Mexico. I don't speak a word of Spanish and I get by just great. I am white.

And yes I do agree with the answerer above me. The weather is beautiful and the sunsets are very pretty. Right now it's starting to get a little chilly but it's usually nice in the afternoons.

Answer 2

The idiot above my post has no idea what El Paso is like. I have lived here for 20 years and it's a nice city. It is really beginning to grow, especially on the east side of town. The weather is great as well and you can't beat the food! I also do not speak very good Spanish, but you can get by with English. Also stay away from Juarez at night. Lots of people go to party, but theres lots of crime and corruption by the people and the city government.

Answer 3

If there's any way you can visit El Paso before you move, that will be a really good idea. I lived in south Texas, San Antonio, which is nowhere near ELP, but I loved it. I also knew lots of middle class people from El Paso, so economically, it's probably a mix like any other American city. Culturally, because it's on the border with Ciudad Juarez, so it's naturally going to be predominately Mexican/Mexican American.

Spanish will help you if you want to get adventurous with your shopping on the other side, but obviously El Paso is in America, so English is fine too.

Personally, I like border cities. Nuevo Laredo and Ciudad Acuna are my favorites.

Alot of people who don't know much about Texas have lots of negative things to say about it, and there are negatives like everywhere else, but what I liked best is that there is alot of old world culture there, lots of historic sites, people living traditional ways, family oriented communities...that's what I liked about Texas.

Answer 4

I used to live in el paso. I loved it!!! stay on good parts of town, west and east. Northeast isn't that bad Down town is GHETTO!!!! Right next to the border. I hope you aren't racist because there are a lot of mexicans. I would move. It it hot!! And decent in the winter. It doesn't snow often. Hope I helped!!

Answer 5

I saw pictures of El Paso in the movies. All they have is cactus and tumbleweeds. And a bunch of drunk cowboys.

Answer 6

Yes and you will need to speak spanish.