In an almost perplexed tone, one early account acknowledges the presence of “semi-civilized Indians.” Valley natives spoke Spanish and performed their traditional indigenous rituals after Catholic celebrations. Some natives and Paseños were spreading into Las Cruces, working on the railroads alongside hundreds of Chinese immigrants (smuggled in and out of El Paso del Norte). Mexico abolished slavery 40 years before the US and even had the first Black President in the mainland Americas. Runaway slaves would often head west or south to try and join the largest free-black population in the hemisphere. Seeing a Spanish-speaking Black Mexican in El Paso del Norte was in the realm of possibility. This might have seemed like a strange dreamland to the first tourists. Especially those only knowing the over-simplified “savages” portrayed by the US. Obviously, the tribes who had surrounded El Paso del Norte did a good job of adding to the insulation of our home over the years, but that was about to end.
The confusion wasn’t just on the northern side of the border, either. During the 1921 census in Mexico, officials were puzzled by the results from Chihuahua. 36.3% of Mexicans in the northernmost state were ethnically self-described as “White.” Which was exponentially higher than the national average of 9.8%. Quickly adding new perspectives and origin stories to the mix would create a series of chain reactions that would try to redefine our home.
Ethnocentric perspectives often begin El Paso’s relevance as an intersection with the railroad. When realistically, the United States’ path through Spanish territory –– and even Spain’s path through the river, were merely following ancient indigenous routes.
Historians have also been quick to point out that in 1890, the City of El Paso’s population saw a 1300% increase from the previous ten years. Because the train arrived in 1881, much of the 10,338 people –– presumably in the middle of nowhere –– are credited as being a byproduct of the industrialized effort. However, most fail to mention that the population of “El Paso, Chihuahua” had already reached 10,000, in 1872. Whether semantics or propaganda, the railroad tracks did create a momentous shift –– just maybe not in the way it’s been portrayed.
People were not coming to this part of the world for first time. But for the first time, people from this region were able to influence the world. The speed in which our enclave was able to collide (and sometimes adopt) opposing ideologies, made it unlike any other place in the world. This was before the advent of air travel and commercial flights. For the first time, Anglos were departing from areas close enough to arrive in a day. Yet, they were still from far away enough to feel like foreigners. El Paso del Norte gave birth to escapism.
But it wasn’t just superficial differences the newcomers were experiencing, it was immersive. The environment and dry habitat was alienating. By the time the railroad arrived, Paseños could have had hundreds if not thousands of years of genetic acclimation to Aridoamerica. The food, language, and culture, were an inexplicable amalgam that had obviously taken generations to develop.
Ethnocentric perspectives often begin El Paso’s relevance as an intersection with the railroad. When realistically, the United States’ path through Spanish territory –– and even Spain’s path through the river, were merely following ancient indigenous routes.
Historians have also been quick to point out that in 1890, the City of El Paso’s population saw a 1300% increase from the previous ten years. Because the train arrived in 1881, much of the 10,338 people –– presumably in the middle of nowhere –– are credited as being a byproduct of the industrialized effort. However, most fail to mention that the population of “El Paso, Chihuahua” had already reached 10,000, in 1872. Whether semantics or propaganda, the railroad tracks did create a momentous shift –– just maybe not in the way it’s been portrayed.
People were not coming to this part of the world for first time. But for the first time, people from this region were able to influence the world. The speed in which our enclave was able to collide (and sometimes adopt) opposing ideologies, made it unlike any other place in the world. This was before the advent of air travel and commercial flights. For the first time, Anglos were departing from areas close enough to arrive in a day. Yet, they were still from far away enough to feel like foreigners. El Paso del Norte gave birth to escapism.
But it wasn’t just superficial differences the newcomers were experiencing, it was immersive. The environment and dry habitat was alienating. By the time the railroad arrived, Paseños could have had hundreds if not thousands of years of genetic acclimation to Aridoamerica. The food, language, and culture, were an inexplicable amalgam that had obviously taken generations to develop.
In an almost perplexed tone, one early account acknowledges the presence of “semi-civilized Indians.” Valley natives spoke Spanish and performed their traditional indigenous rituals after Catholic celebrations. Some natives and Paseños were spreading into Las Cruces, working on the railroads alongside hundreds of Chinese immigrants (smuggled in and out of El Paso del Norte). Mexico abolished slavery 40 years before the US and even had the first Black President in the mainland Americas. Runaway slaves would often head west or south to try and join the largest free-black population in the hemisphere. Seeing a Spanish-speaking Black Mexican in El Paso del Norte was in the realm of possibility. This might have seemed like a strange dreamland to the first tourists. Especially those only knowing the over-simplified “savages” portrayed by the US. Obviously, the tribes who had surrounded El Paso del Norte did a good job of adding to the insulation of our home over the years, but that was about to end.
The confusion wasn’t just on the northern side of the border, either. During the 1921 census in Mexico, officials were puzzled by the results from Chihuahua. 36.3% of Mexicans in the northernmost state were ethnically self-described as “White.” Which was exponentially higher than the national average of 9.8%. Quickly adding new perspectives and origin stories to the mix would create a series of chain reactions that would try to redefine our home.