The Salt War of 1877 Was a Violent Border Conflict in El Paso County

For many years, Hispanic settlers near El Paso collected salt from lakes at the base of the Guadalupe Mountains. In the 1870s, Anglo political figures tried to claim private ownership of those lakes. That set off violence. The fight — called the Salt War of San Elizario — lasted months in 1877. It included gunfights, a siege of Texas Rangers, and deaths on more than one side.

U.S. Army troops helped end the conflict. The violence led directly to Fort Bliss being reopened after it had been shut down. The Salt War showed the deep tensions of that time along the border — fights over land rights, ethnic conflict, and clashing American and Mexican traditions.