Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua

“It is difficult to drive through Juarez without thinking of the 1000 women that have died there – cases unsolved.

You really want to believe that the city has cleaned up it’s act but I certainly would feel a lot more confident if the authorities caught the criminals in question.

Until they do, I will feel sorry for the residents but continue to drive straight through without spending my tourist dollars. Sad but true.”

Dorothy Bell

Name: In 1888 El Paso del Norte – the original name of the town – was renamed in honor of Benito Juárez.

Location: Located on the Rio Grande just south of El Paso Texas.

Weather: Hot in the summer. Cool/cold winters.

Weather Today in Ciudad Juarez

January Average Highs 13.7C (56.7F) Lows −1.9 C (28.6F)

July Average Highs 35.5C (95.9F ) Lows 19.5C (67.1F)

Population: 1,400.000

Elevation: 1,137 m (3,730 ft)

Founded: In 1659 by the Franciscan Friar García de San Francisco. Known as the Paso del Norte (“North Pass”) because the Spanish were seeking a route through the Southern Rockies

Medical: Hospitals, clinics, doctors, dentists

Money: Banks, Atms

History: American Indians had a community here when in 1659 the Spanish arrived looking for a route through the Rockies. Friar García de San Francisco founded The Misión de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe and Paso del Norte (“North Pass”). It flourished as a community because it was in the middle between Santa Fe and the city of Chihuahua.

The town grew as did many others close by and reached over 5000 people. The Appache attacked the area in 1750.

In 1848 after the Mexican American War the Treaty of Guadalupe established the Rio Grande as the US Mexican border.

Benito Juarez’ army stayed in El Paso del Norte during the rein of Maximillian and later moved to the city of Chihuahua for his government in exile. The city grew substantially in the 1880’s with the building of the Mexico Central Railroad and the free-trade policy set up by Diaz. . Commerce thrived and banks, telegraph, telephone, and trams appeared. In the early 1900’s schools were built and a water sewage infrastructure was developed. New markets, hotels and restaurants opened.

The city was the largest border town in 1910 and became something to fight about during the Mexican Revolution. The federal troops tried to hold Juarez but Madero laid the laid siege to the city. The feral troops eventually surrendered but the conflict remained and Pancho Villa and others destroyed the city with ongoing battles and the most of the population abandoned the city;

The city again started to recover in the late 20;s, 30’s and 40’s. Gambling. Tourism and manufacturing attracted workers from across the country. The Cathedral was built in 1950.

Today:

Rapid growth often signals troubles. The maquiladoras plants has drawn a large number of people to the city looking for work and with that influx came slum housing and urban sprall. Juarez – like many border cities – is known for drug crime and violence. From 1993 to 2003 over 1000 young women have been murdered and the cases remain unsolved.

The city is attempting to re brand the city from “Murder Capital of the World” to a great place to visit. The city center is getting remodeled and given a deserved face lift. The Juarez and Sinaloa drug cartel war has ended and the murder rate has plunged. Still the public relations folks have a long way to go for tourists to once again return and spend money in Juarez. It will likely be a very long work in progress.

Getting there: