San Elizario, Texas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = San Elizario, Texas
settlement_type = CDP
nickname =
motto =

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image_

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of San Elizario, Texas

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mapsize1 = 250px
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Texas
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = El Paso

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 25.7
area_land_km2 = 25.7
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 9.9
area_land_sq_mi = 9.9
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 11046
population_density_km2 = 429.6
population_density_sq_mi = 1112.8

timezone = Mountain (MST)
utc_offset = -7
timezone_DST = MDT
utc_offset_DST = -6
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 1110
elevation_ft = 3642
latd = 31 |latm = 34 |lats = 58 |latNS = N
longd = 106 |longm = 15 |longs = 57 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 79849
area_code = 915
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 48-65360GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1367493GR|3
website =
footnotes =

San Elizario is a census-designated place (CDP) in El Paso County, Texas, United States. The population was 11,046 at the 2000 census. It is part of the El Paso Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

San Elizario is located at coor dms|31|34|58|N|106|15|57|W|city (31.582873, -106.265703)right next to the riverGR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 9.9 square miles (25.7 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 11,046 people, 2,624 households, and 2,440 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,112.8 people per square mile (429.5/km²). There were 2,809 housing units at an average density of 283.0/sq mi (109.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.33% White, 0.15% African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.01% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 4.18% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 97.88% of the population. Of those 97.88 who identify themselves as Hispanic, 95.02 identify themselves as Mexican, making San Elizario the most Mexican town in the United States.

There were 2,624 households out of which 67.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.8% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 7.0% were non-families. 6.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.21 and the average family size was 4.40.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 42.3% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 13.4% from 45 to 64, and 4.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $20,145, and the median income for a family was $20,772. Males had a median income of $16,689 versus $12,648 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $5,915. About 40.2% of families and 44.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 51.8% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

San Elizaro is served by the San Elizario Independent School District.

The First Thanksgiving

In 1598, Don Juan de Oñate, a Spanish nobleman and conquistador born in Zacatecas, Mexico, led a group of 500 colonists and 7,000 head of livestock ("including horses, oxen and cattle") from southern Chihuahua to settle the province of New Mexico. The caravan traveled a northeasterly route for weeks across the desert until it reached the banks of the Río Grande in the San Elizario area. The thirsty travelers drank the cool water and then celebrated with a Thanksgiving Mass and enjoyed a feast of fish, fowl and deer on April 30, 1598. This is considered to be the "First Thanksgiving" celebrated in the present-day United States. Oñate performed the ceremony of La Toma ("Taking Possession") in which he claimed the new province for King Philip II of Spain or Rey Felipe II de España.

an Elizario Chapel

San Elizario Chapel, as known as La Capilla de San Elcear, was never a mission, but it functioned as a presidio chapel. It provided the religious needs of a presidio or an outpost of military personnel. The presidio was moved to the present site in 1789, to protect travelers and settlers along the Camino Real (Royal Highway) which ran through El Paso, TX to Santa Fe, NM. Its close proximity to the Ysleta and Socorro missions also provided protection for them.

When Mexico became independent from Spain in 1821, the military presence at the presidio decreased. By 1848, the presidio had fallen into ruins. Rebuilding efforts began in 1853, with a small church. This proved inadequate and the present structure was completed in 1882. The exterior appearance has ever since changed very little.

alt War

In 1877 a conflict, the Salt War, broke out between the town and a troop of Texas Rangers. The Rangers surrendered, but the state removed the county seat to El Paso and the railroad was not built through the town.

Trivia

* The wedding scene for the movie Fandango (1985) was filmed in the plaza of the San Elizario church.
* On May 22, 2007 and Custom Border Patrol Helicopter crashed in the back yard of a town resident's home. The accident killed the pilot and seriously injured the other co-pilot.

References

External links

* [http://www.epcounty.com/History/saneli.htm El Paso County History of San Elizario]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089126/ Fandango IMDB]