A CITY READY TO BUILD

After World War II, private development resumed. Fort Bliss had expanded dramatically during the war, automobiles were changing how subdivisions were designed, and El Paso’ s postwar building boom was beginning to take shape. By 1950, El Paso County’ s population was approximately 195,000.

EL PASO EXPANDS

Growth accelerated as new subdivisions pushed farther from the traditional city center. Wider lots, garages, curving streets and automobile-oriented shopping centers became increasingly common. By 1970, El Paso County had 359,291 residents and nearly 96,000 households.

NEIGHBORHOODS & COMMUNITIES GROW

El Paso County approached 480,000 residents in 1980 and nearly 600,000 by 1990. New neighborhoods, master-planned communities, schools, parks and retail centers followed the rooftops as residential development continued moving outward.

BUILDING THROUGH BOOM & BUST

El Paso County’ s population passed 681,000 in 2000. Residential permitting surged during the housing boom, reaching more than 5,400 units in 2005, before declining as the national housing market entered the Great Recession. El Paso builders adapted and persevered.

A STRONGER, SMARTER FUTURE

El Paso County crossed the 800,000-resident mark around 2010 and continued to grow. Builders faced a changing marketplace shaped by land availability, labor and material costs, new building and energy codes, financing and increasing affordability pressures.

MEETING TODAY’ S CHALLENGES

Today’ s builders continue to meet the challenge of creating quality homes and strong communities while navigating higher costs, regulation, infrastructure needs and housing affordability. El Paso County’ s estimated population in 2025 was approximately 877,858.