Socorro, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Socorro, Texas
City
Motto(s):  City with a Mission
Location of Socorro, Texas
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	El Paso
Founded	1680
Incorporated	1985 (first incorporated 1871)
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
Area
• Total	21.97 sq mi (56.90 km2)
• Land	21.95 sq mi (56.84 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation	3,652 ft (1,113 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	34,306
• Density	1,566.05/sq mi (604.65/km2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP codes	79927-79929
Area code(s)	915
FIPS code	48-68636
GNIS feature ID	2411920

Socorro is a city in El Paso County, Texas, United States. It is located on the north bank of the Rio Grande river, southeast of the larger city of El Paso. Socorro is right on the border with Mexico.

The city of El Paso is next to Socorro on the west. The smaller city of San Elizario is to the southeast. Other nearby towns include Horizon City to the north and Clint to the east.

In 2020, about 34,306 people lived in Socorro. This makes it the second-largest city in El Paso County, after El Paso itself. Socorro is part of the larger El Paso metropolitan area. The city has a special type of government called a "council-manager" system, which means a city manager runs the daily operations, guided by a city council.

Geography of Socorro

Socorro covers a total area of about 22 square miles (57 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a very small part, about 0.02 square miles (0.06 square kilometers), is covered by water.

History of Socorro

Socorro was founded a long time ago, in 1680. It was started by Manso and Piro Native Americans. They were escaping from the Pueblo Revolt happening in northern New Mexico.

The city got its name from a town in central New Mexico also called Socorro. The word "Socorro" means "aid" or "succor" in Spanish. The Spanish gave this name because the Piro people were very helpful when they first met the Spaniards.

The official founding date for Socorro, Texas, is thought to be October 13, 1680. This was the day a special church service was held in the mission church of Nuestra Señora de la Limpia Concepción del Socorro. Spanish people and the Piro people they brought with them from New Mexico during the Pueblo Revolt established the city.

Socorro first became an official town in 1871. It became a city again in 1985. This happened because the nearby city of El Paso tried to take over Socorro, and the people of Socorro wanted to keep their independence.

Population and People

Socorro's Population in 2020

In 2020, Socorro had 34,306 people living there. There were 9,964 households and 8,442 families. This population size makes Socorro the 93rd largest city in Texas. This means it's bigger than 94% of all other cities in Texas!

Between 2010 and 2020, Socorro's population grew by 7.2%. It went from 32,013 people to 34,306 people.

Most of the people in Socorro are of Hispanic or Latino background. In 2020, about 96.48% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Socorro's Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 8,792 households in Socorro. About 56.5% of these households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (62.4%) were married couples living together.

The average household had about 3.64 people. The average family had about 3.93 people.

The age of people in Socorro was spread out:

• 32.5% were under 18 years old.
• 11.4% were between 18 and 24.
• 25.3% were between 25 and 44.
• 21.9% were between 45 and 64.
• 8.7% were 65 or older.

The median age in Socorro was 29.5 years. This means half the people were younger than 29.5, and half were older.

Economy

Socorro is a city where many people work in sales and office jobs. A lot of residents also work in construction, building, and providing services to others.

Fun Places to Visit

Socorro has several interesting places to see and things to do:

• Rio Vista Bracero Reception Center: This place was once an orphanage and a place for people needing help. In 1950, it became a center for the Bracero Program. This program helped Mexican workers come to the United States to work in agriculture. In 2023, it was named a National Historic Landmark.
• Bulldog Championship Park: This park is a great place for families. It has a splash park where you can cool off, an amphitheater for performances, walking trails, and a pond.
• Socorro Mission: This historic church was built around 1840 by Franciscan missionaries. It was made to serve the Native American people in the area. The mission is made of white adobe and is a registered Texas historic landmark. It's one of three important missions on the historic Mission Trail. Inside the mission, you can see a special replica of the Pieta. This famous sculpture was created by the artist Michelangelo in 1499. There are only 112 authorized copies of the Pieta in the world.
• Socorro Entertainment Center: This is a popular place for concerts and shows. Many famous bands and singers have performed here, like Counting Crows, BB King, and Everclear.

In 2014, a company called Movoto ranked Socorro as the 22nd most exciting city in Texas!

• Fiesta de San Miguel: This is an annual festival held in September at the Socorro Mission La Purisima. It's a fun event with live music, dancing, food, drinks, games, and rides.

Parks in Socorro

Socorro has many parks where you can enjoy the outdoors:

• Bulldog Championship Park: This is the newest park in El Paso County, covering about 6.25 acres. It has an amphitheater, covered picnic areas (pavilions), a splash playground, regular playgrounds, walking trails, and plenty of parking.

Other parks in Socorro include:

• Amistad Park
• Cougar Park
• Mauro Rosas Park
• Moon City Park
• Paradize Park
• Rio Bosque Wetlands Park
• Rio Vista Park
• Silvestre Reyes Park
• Valle Hermoso Park

Sports

The sports teams from Socorro High School have achieved success. In 2009, the Socorro High School baseball team won the 5A Texas state championship!

Education

Most students in Socorro attend schools within the Socorro Independent School District. Some areas in northeast Socorro are part of the Clint Independent School District.

Here are some of the schools in the Socorro Independent School District that serve the city:

• Elementary Schools:

* Escontrias Elementary School * H.D. Hilley Elementary School * Hueco Elementary School * Robert R. Rojas Elementary School * Ernesto Serna Elementary-Intermediate School * Campestre Elementary School

• Middle Schools:

* Socorro Middle School * Salvador H. Sanchez Middle School * Ernesto Serna Elementary-Intermediate School (also serves elementary grades)

• High School:

* Socorro High School

Other schools in the Socorro ISD include Escontrias Early Childhood and KEYS Elementary Academy.

Students living in the part of Socorro that belongs to the Clint Independent School District go to Clint High School, Clint Junior High School, and Surratt Elementary School, all located in Clint.

See also

In Spanish: Socorro (Texas) para niños