Village Green - El Paso, TX

This area, right on the border with Mexico, officially became a part of Texas in 1836, though the low proportion of English-speaking residents made it difficult for the government of Texas to exert influence in the region. This changed in 1846, when a large Texan garrison was stationed nearby, a move which firmly cemented the Republic of Texas' claim to what would become El Paso. Both the English- and Spanish-speaking populations of Village Green steadily grew throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. After World War II, military expansion and oil discoveries nearby sparked dramatic economic growth across the whole of west Texas.

The El Paso Symphony Orchestra, which was first established in the 1930s, has earned national and international recognition and still plays a regular schedule of concerts. Native plants, Native American shelters and extensive dioramas draw crowds at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology. The dioramas primarily showcase Southwest culture and geology, and local schools often incorporate a field trip to the museum into their lesson plans.

El Paso's Chalk the Block event features sidewalk chalk art, temporary art installations and live music. Locals contest in sidewalk chalk competitions and kids enjoy the kid zone and food at this free event.

Perhaps the purest expression of Western culture and Hispanic heritage in the area can be glimpsed at Southwestern PRCA Rodeo, the longest-running sporting event in El Paso.

Restaurants in Village Green have you covered, whether you're craving pizza, sandwiches or authentic Mexican fare.

La Taquiza serves up authentic Mexican food, including taqueria-style tacos, with impeccable service and affordable prices. Adventurous eaters should try the menudo, a traditional Mexican soup made with tripe. For inexpensive and flavorful Mexican food, stop by Burrito House. Order chile relleno with beans, chilaquiles rojos, menudo and beef tacos. Open from 7a.m. to 6 p.m., Burrito House accepts payment through all major credit and debit cards.

For a real Texas country and western experience, look no further than the Texas Stagecoach Saloon. Dance to the music of live country bands, play pool and darts, or simply unwind at the bar with some ice-cold beer like a real cowboy. Get in early on game night since the 12 large screen TVs have been known to attract capacity crowds.

Great service and a good selection of drinks bring regulars to Aviators night after night. Enjoy your choice of music from the jukebox, daily drink specials and free games of pool on a first-come, first-served basis, every Sunday and Monday.

Residents mostly commute to and from work in private vehicles, and only a small percentage of them regularly carpool. Locals find it easy to accomplish some tasks by foot in this reasonably pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. Bike lanes exist here and there, but they aren't universal. Fortunately, most of the non-bike lane streets in Village Green see less vehicle traffic than the main thoroughfares, which makes them a lot safer for bicyclists to enjoy.

Sun Metro operates a regular schedule of buses and paratransit services and maintains several park and ride facilities, some of which offer free parking. Locals utilize on-street parking spaces in the downtown area, where parking typically costs $1 per hour. U.S. Highway 54 or Patriot Freeway connects Village Green to Interstate-10, which passes through El Paso. I-10 connects El Paso to Jacksonville, New Orleans and Los Angeles.

United Independent Cab and Checker Taxi Cab provide taxi services to this area. Uber serves El Paso and surrounding areas, so getting around Village Green never takes more than a quick phone call.

Residents of this neighborhood take advantage of the close proximity to the Franklin Mountain State Park, which offers hiking and rock climbing. Playgrounds for children and classes at the recreation center help locals stay fit and enjoy the outdoors.

Spend a day at Skyline Optimist Youth Park, which boasts a playground, baseball field, basketball courts and picnic tables to cater to kids, families and retired seniors alike. The park's walking and jogging paths stretch out long enough to wrap around the baseball field.

The Veterans Recreation Center organizes fitness and sports clinics for all comers. Classes held in the center include basketball, Tai Chi and swimming at the indoor aquatics center. The center also organizes events such as Paws in the Park for dogs and their owners, as well as a free arts and crafts fair.

The West Community Recreation Center maintains a fairly large dog park with three separate areas, one for small dogs and two for big dogs. This park area includes a grassy area, water fountains and doggy bags.

A free summer concert series, the Cool Canyon Nights, held at the McKelligon Canyon Amphitheatre, runs on Thursdays from May to July.

One of the top ten airshows in the country, the Amigo Airsho, features the Franklin Flying Circus and a jet-powered school bus. Circus performers walk on the wings of an airborne plane at this event. Originally held in the Biggs Army Airfield, the show has been moved to the Dona Ana Airport.

The cost of living in this area sits lower than the El Paso average and national average. Average rent for a one-bedroom residence is $690 per month. Expect to pay $1.50 for a bus trip to El Paso and $2 for a pint of beer. Gasoline prices in this oil-rich territory fall below 4 percent of the national average.

With most of the large malls clustered around Fort Bliss and Sunland Park, smaller retail stores and strip malls cater to the needs of the Village Green community.

For trendy brand name clothes, shoes and fine jewelry, try Tres Mariposas on Mesa Street. Although a bit on the expensive side, the layaway option makes it accessible to nearly everyone with an eye for silver and turquoise. This boutique organizes regular trunk shows featuring the work of both local and international jewelry designers.

Village Green residents get most of their groceries from large chain stores such as Walmart and Albertsons. Korean, Japanese and other Asian foods fill the dry southwestern air with exotic Eastern spices at the well-trafficked Arirang Market on Dyer Street. This tidy little specialty store carries kimchi, fresh produce, snacks for the kids and frozen foods.

The closest farmers market, the Ardovino’s Desert Crossing Farmers Market in New Mexico, carries produce, local jams, jellies and bread as well as a surprisingly large collection of local art. Locals savor food samples and new products like Kombucha soda or Indian fig prickly pear jelly each Saturday morning when the market opens for business.