City Leaders Concerned About El Paso’s 2010 Census Numbers

New information recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau reveals a snapshot of El Paso’s development and what it means for borderland families.

The numbers show El Paso county’s population is 800,647. The city’s population is 649,121. Both figures show an increase of more than 15 percent.

Most of the growth has concentrated in the east side of the city. Stephanie Vega told ABC-7 she’s one of many El Pasoans who decided to relocate to the area, which has seen a reported 200,000 population spike in the last ten years.

“I really, really like it,” said Vega. “Everything is brand new.”

County Judge Veronica Escobar said new construction adds to the tax base. “While that growth is in some ways a good thing in the short term, it also means is we have to build the infrastructure to go with that and that is incredibly expensive,” said Escobar.

Escobar said added growth doesn’t necessarily mean added federal assistance because of rampant budget cuts. That places a greater burden on local governments.

“For example in central El Paso we’ve seen a couple of EPISD schools close because of low population. Well, what’s happening is the growth is on the outskirts and so tax payers are having to pay for new schools. We’re closing schools in the central core and we’re building new schools in the outer core. Not good for your tax base,” said Escobar.

Census data also shows a rise in El Paso’s Hispanic demographic. El Paso was 78% Hispanic in 2000. Now it’s 82% Hispanic.

“I think the result of some of that growth is migration form Ciudad Juarez,” said Escobar.

At the state level, census data shows increases in population throughout Texas counties. Compare El Paso”s 15% growth to Bexar County, which saw 23% population growth. Travis county saw a 26% increase.

The entire state grew in population by 20%, which means Texas will get four additional seats in U.S. Congress.

At the local level, representation in El Paso may change due to the census figures. State Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, may lose part of his constituency in east El Paso.

State legislators will also likely be redrawing district lines to change representation in El Paso.

For now, local leaders said they hope the data will help guide the Sun City into the new decade.

“You want the growth but you kind of want it strategically placed where we have infrastructure already. I’d like to sit down with the city and figure out what can we do as a community to pull people back in,” said Escobar.