Texas Porch

Higher Education

UTEP Has Been Part of El Paso Since 1914

The University of Texas at El Paso was founded in 1914 as a mining school. Today it is a major research university and a key part of city life.

El Paso County History & Culture

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) opened in 1914. It started as the State School of Mines and Metallurgy. Mining was a big industry here back then. Over the years it joined the UT System. It grew into a full university. Today it is one of the city's biggest employers. Most of its students are Hispanic.

UTEP's buildings are easy to spot. The campus uses a style called Bhutanese architecture, modeled on the dzong fortress-monasteries of Bhutan after a 1914 National Geographic article. You can see it from across the city. UTEP offers research, arts, medicine, and graduate programs. It also holds public events and classes for the community. If you are new to El Paso, UTEP is more than a college — it is a resource for the whole city.

Source to confirm: UTEP — Bhutan on the Border

More El Paso County notes

Property Tax Basics

Who Appraises Your Home for Taxes in El Paso County

The El Paso Central Appraisal District sets the value on your property, and that value drives what you owe in property taxes.

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Homestead Exemption

How to Lower Your Tax Bill with a Homestead Exemption

If your home is your primary residence, you can apply for a homestead exemption that reduces the taxable value of your property.

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Appraisal Cap

Your Appraised Value Can Only Rise 10% Per Year with a Homestead

Texas law limits how fast a homestead property's taxable value can grow each year, which protects owners in fast-rising markets.

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Unincorporated County

Living Outside City Limits in El Paso County Means No Zoning

If your property is in unincorporated El Paso County — outside any city — there are no county zoning rules and the county cannot issue building permits.

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