El Paso, Illinois
El Paso, Illinois | |
|---|---|
City hall | |
| Motto: Building for tomorrow | |
Location in Woodford County, Illinois | |
| Coordinates: 40°44′26″N 89°01′06″W / 40.74056°N 89.01833°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| Counties | Woodford, McLean |
| Townships | El Paso, Gridley |
| Established | 1857 |
| Founded by | George Gibson and James Wathen |
| Named after | Uncertain; likely El Paso Mountains or El Paso County, Texas |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Thad Mool |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.15 sq mi (5.56 km2) |
| • Land | 2.15 sq mi (5.56 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 748 ft (228 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 2,756 |
• Estimate (2024) | 2,732 |
| • Density | 1,284.7/sq mi (496.04/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 61738 |
| Area code | 309 |
| FIPS code | 17-23737 |
| FIPS code | 17-23737 |
| GNIS ID | 2394632 |
| Website | www |
El Paso (Spanish for 'The Step') is a city in Woodford and McLean counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 2,756 at the 2020 census. The Woodford County portion of El Paso is part of the Peoria Metropolitan Statistical Area.
El Paso is a city in central Illinois. After the construction of Interstate 39, which replaced the former alignment of U.S. Highway 51 through the area, the city’s development patterns shifted toward highway-oriented transportation infrastructure. Interstate 39 in Illinois was completed on October 31, 1992, with the final segment between Kappa and Illinois Route 116 near El Paso. The city's strategic location at the intersection of the Illinois Central Railroad and the Toledo, Peoria, and Western Railroad played a pivotal role in its development as a vital commercial hub in the 19th century.
In February 2022, a multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 39 near El Paso resulted in an extended highway closure reported in national media.
El Paso is also home to the El Paso District Library, a Carnegie library built in 1907, and the Legacy Building, originally constructed in 1874 as the Eagle Block Building, which now houses several local businesses and the Project XV Museum.
Historical transportation links and local developments have shaped El Paso’s growth and community institutions over time.