Spanish
El Paso
Texas (TX)est. 1659pop. 678,815/el PAS-oh/
The meaning
“The pass of the north”
How it got the name
Juan de Onate crossed the Rio Grande here in 1598 and called it El Paso del Norte — the northern pass — because the river cuts a genuine gap between the Franklin and Juarez mountain ranges. For three centuries it was the only practical route north into New Mexico.
Former names
- El Paso del Norte
- Franklin
- El Paso