El Paso

History

El Paso was founded by George Gibson and James Wathen. Having traveled to California through Texas previously, Gibson gave it the Spanish name El Paso, either after El Paso County, Texas, the El Paso Mountains in California, or because of a nearby railroad junction. The city developed at the intersection of the Illinois Central Railroad and the Toledo, Peoria, and Western Railroad. This junction contributed to the expansion of local commerce through the late 19th century. In 1857, the Peoria & Oquawka Railroad was built, linking Gilman on the Chicago branch to El Paso on the main line, thereby establishing a connection between these two significant divisions, and, on December 3, 1871, the Oilman, Clinton & Springfield Railroad, which connected the branch to the state capital, officially began operations. This connection laid the foundation for El Paso's continued expansion into the late 1800s, fueling its business and social activity. The first post office in El Paso Township was established by Caleb Horn at his house, about two to three miles from Kappa, with mail carried by horseback twice a week. Over the years, the post office moved several times, with key changes including the relocation to Elm Street in 1861, the transfer to the Shur, Tompkins & Co. Bank building in the 1860s, and finally, the move to its current location in 1901. By the mid-1900s, multiple rural mail routes had been established, and in 1964, a new post office building was opened, marking a significant development in the town's postal services. The Campbell House in El Paso, Illinois, was built in 1854 by William Campbell, an early settler and prominent local figure, and it served as an important stagecoach stop along the Peoria and Bloomington Road. The building was razed in 1938. The house,…

Geography

El Paso is located in southeastern Woodford County. A small portion of the city limits extends east along U.S. Route 24 into northern McLean County. US 24 leads east to Interstate 55 in Chenoa and west to Peoria. Interstate 39 crosses the west side of El Paso, with access from Exit 14 (US 24); the Interstate highway leads south to Interstate 55 in Normal and north to La Salle. Illinois Route 251 follows the former alignment of U.S. Route 51 through the center of El Paso, leading north to Minonk and south to Kappa. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, El Paso has a total area of , all land. El Paso experiences a humid continental climate, characterized by warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Average high temperatures in July reach around 85.6 °F, while January sees average lows near 15 °F. The city receives approximately 35 inches of rainfall annually, with the majority occurring between April and October, and about 13 inches of snowfall each year. The city's elevation is approximately 499 feet above sea level. El Paso's geographic location places it within the Peoria Metropolitan Statistical Area, contributing to its connectivity and regional significance.

Race & ethnicity

Most recent

• M 2.6 — 2025-03-15
  6 km W of Dwight, Illinois
• M 3.6 — 2023-11-15
  1 km SSW of Standard, Illinois
• M 4.2 — 2004-06-28
  12 km NW of Dayton, Illinois