El Paso County vs. Foard County
Mountains & Mesquite
Today’s matchup brings together the westernmost edge of Texas and the wide-open plains of North Texas: two regions separated by miles, but united by resilience. El Paso County, where more than 870,000 Texans live at the crossroads of cultures, commerce, and military strength, stands as a symbol of connection and progress. Foard County, home to fewer than 1,000 residents, represents the quiet persistence of small-town Texas: where ranching, faith, and community still define everyday life. From El Paso’s skyline to Foard’s rolling mesquite country, both counties remind us that true Texas strength comes from people who stay, build, and care for their neighbors.
El Paso County (Approx. 870,000)
Bordering New Mexico and Mexico, El Paso County is an international gateway fueled by trade, education, and military presence from Fort Bliss. Challenges include infrastructure, border security balance, and maintaining affordable housing amid growth and cross-border complexity.
Foard County (Approx. 1,000)
Located in North Texas near the Red River Valley, Foard County’s seat, Crowell, anchors a small ranching and wind energy community. Challenges include declining population, healthcare access, and keeping rural schools strong for future generations.
Why It Matters
El Paso debates focus on border economy, transportation, and cultural collaboration. Foard County debates center on small-town survival: sustaining schools, healthcare, and opportunity for the next generation. Both counties, in different ways, define Texas’ crossroads between growth and grit.
Why Forward
Forward believes leadership should work for both bustling border metros and quiet ranch towns alike.
In El Paso County, Ranked Choice Voting and open primaries would promote leaders who build coalitions across lines of party and culture: encouraging pragmatic problem-solvers to address infrastructure, trade, and public safety. Fair redistricting would protect diverse neighborhoods from being split apart, giving all communities a voice in Austin and Washington.
In Foard County, those same reforms would strengthen local democracy by ensuring that rural voices can compete on ideas, not party resources. Open primaries would let independent candidates emerge, while Ranked Choice Voting would help elect consensus leaders who focus on keeping schools and small businesses alive.
Forward’s vision: practical, inclusive, and local; connects these two worlds. From El Paso’s bridges to Foard’s backroads, Texans deserve systems that reward cooperation, not division.
Did You Know…
El Paso is one of the largest bilingual metro areas in the U.S., with 75% of residents speaking both English and Spanish.
Foard County is home to the Copper Breaks State Park, a dark-sky preserve that offers some of the best stargazing in Texas.
Why Texans Love Living Here
In El Paso County, residents love the blend of cultures, the sunsets over the Franklin Mountains, and the sense of safety and community. In Foard County, people love open skies, quiet nights, and knowing everyone by name. Both embody the same Texas virtue: steadfastness — the courage to plant roots and thrive in your own way.
Key Events That Bring Neighbors Together
Sun City Music Festival — El Paso’s annual summer celebration of art, culture, and live music.
People & Tech Created This
The profiles and shared challenges were gathered from Texas Forward Party supporters and written using ChatGPT and Gemini models to combine verified public data, official county/state sources, and general knowledge from Texas historical and government records, including, but not limited to:
