The City of El Paso

El Paso is located at the westernmost point of Texas. Along the city's border, the boundaries of the United States and Mexico, the states of Texas and New Mexico, and the Mexican state of Chihuahua meet. It is in this geographic setting that one finds the unique fusion of old and new, of history made by cowboys and conquistadors, and of traditions that reflect American, Mexican and Native American cultures. Prospective students and resident physicians will find El Paso’s multicultural heritage offers a special opportunity to gain a deep knowledge of border health issues.

El Paso is located at the base of the Franklin Mountains, a southern segment of the Rockies, along the banks of the Rio Grande. Known as the "Sun City," the sun shines over 300 days a year on average, making it an ideal place for year-round outdoor activities. Cool forests and winter skiing are just a two-hour drive to the mountains of New Mexico. Visitors flying or driving into the city at night enjoy the spectacular image of a star, consisting of hundreds of light bulbs, on a mountainside overlooking Central El Paso.

Centuries-old Spanish missions, art museums, theaters, operas, symphony orchestras, outstanding Mexican and international cuisine, mariachi bands, rodeos, and country and western dancing all play a part in El Paso’s cultural mosaic.

Its citizens enjoy entertainment provided by the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, El Paso Pro-Musica, the El Paso Opera and various theater groups. El Paso is also a favorite stop for traveling Broadway musical companies. Museums in the region include the El Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Holocaust Museum, the El Paso Museum of Archaeology, the War Eagles Air Museum, the El Paso Museum of History, and the Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens.

Sports fans enjoy action provided by the El Paso Chihuahuas, a triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres baseball team, as well as El Paso Locomotive FC, the city’s professional soccer team. The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Miners give college sports fans plenty of action with their basketball and football teams. The Sun Bowl football game, held every year during the holiday season, is televised nationally as part of the Sun Carnival, the city's official celebration of its continuous sunshine status.

In addition, the following are nearby recreational sites:

• Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, within walking distance of El Paso, for shopping and restaurants.
• Ruidoso, New Mexico, situated high in the Lincoln National Forest, for skiing, hiking, camping, fine dining and horse racing.
• White Sands National Park in White Sands, New Mexico.
• Elephant Butte Dam, near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, for boating, fishing, water skiing, and camping.
• Carlsbad Caverns National Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
• Silver City, New Mexico and the nearby Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.
• The New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo, New Mexico.