Puerto Palomas, Chihuahua facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Puerto Palomas de Villa Palomas
Town
Mexican port of entry at Puerto Palomas
Map showing Palomas within Mexico
Puerto Palomas, Chihuahua Location in Chihuahua
Country	Mexico
State	Chihuahua
Municipality	Ascensión
Elevation	1,200 m (3,900 ft)
Population  (2010)
• Total	4,688

Puerto Palomas de Villa, often called Palomas, is a small town in Mexico. It has about 4,688 people and is located in the state of Chihuahua. Palomas is right on the border with the United States, next to the village of Columbus, New Mexico.

Location and Weather

Palomas is in the Chihuahuan Desert, a large desert area. It sits quite high up, about 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) above sea level. Because it's so high and in northern Mexico, Palomas gets about 5 inches of snow every year.

Visiting Palomas

Puerto Palomas is a different way to cross the border if you are near the El Paso area. It's about a 90-minute drive west of El Paso. Many visitors from the U.S. come here for a few reasons. They might want to buy medicines that cost less or get dental work done. A popular spot is "The Pink Store and Restaurant." This store sells many cool arts and crafts from all over Mexico. The restaurant is famous for its dishes made with queso menonita, a special cheese from the state of Chihuahua. If you need a place to stay, there is a hotel just a few blocks away.

A Look at History

Palomas has an important place in history. On March 9, 1916, a famous Mexican revolutionary, Pancho Villa, started an attack on Columbus, New Mexico, from Palomas. In response, the United States sent an army group called the Pancho Villa Expedition. This group, led by General John J. Pershing, tried to capture Pancho Villa.

Even after more than a year of searching, Pancho Villa was not caught. This mission was one of the first times the U.S. Army used many motorized vehicles for transport. During this time, a young officer named Lt. George S. Patton became well-known. He later became a famous general. Patton, along with ten soldiers, found and killed two Mexican leaders, including "General" Julio Cárdenas. Cárdenas was the leader of Villa's personal guards. Because of this action, and because Patton liked using a special type of gun called the Colt Peacemaker, General Pershing called him his "Bandito." Patton's success made him famous in the U.S., and his story was in newspapers across the country.

Schools and Education

Palomas has several public schools. Families need to pay fees for their children to attend these schools.

As of the 2013–2014 school year, 421 kids from Palomas went to schools in the United States. These schools are part of the Deming Public Schools system. Many children living in Palomas are U.S. citizens. This is because U.S. and New Mexico rules allow women in Palomas to give birth at the closest hospital, which is in Deming, on the U.S. side. Being born in the U.S. automatically makes someone a citizen.

Because of the school fees in Palomas, and the chance to learn English, many parents prefer to send their children to schools in the U.S. The schools in Deming also have better facilities. Almost 75% of the students at Columbus Elementary School, which is very close to the border, live in Palomas. Their parents are Mexican.

Images for kids

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  The border wall west of Puerto Palomas

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  Statute of Pancho Villa and John Pershing

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  In this aerial photograph looking over Columbus, New Mexico (foreground), Puerto Palomas is in the center, with its near edge defining the international border.

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  The Pink Store

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  The high street in 2008

See also

In Spanish: Puerto Palomas (Chihuahua) para niños