San Elizario Historic District
Also known as: San Elceario Presidio; San Elizario Townsite Historic Distric
Why it's listed
San Elizario's historic core sits on the Rio Grande flood plain about 17 miles southeast of El Paso. The community grew from a presidio and chapel founded in 1790, and its streets still follow the diamond-shaped orientation of the old fort, even after floods in 1829 and 1852 forced residents to rebuild. Plaza Bernal and the mission chapel anchor the district, surrounded by one-story adobe homes, shops and institutional buildings with flat roofs, high parapets and stucco coatings, shaped by Spanish Colonial Revival and Territorial styling. Irrigation ditches, tree-lined streets and open cotton fields frame the village. Depression-era projects added the 1936 middle school, designed by Trost and Trost, and a health center, along with improvements to the lateral. Seventeen archeological sites contain trash deposits with plant and animal remains, ceramics and tools linked to the presidio. The district was recognized for its history from 1790 to 1945, its architecture and its archeological potential, with 42 of 68 resources contributing.
Significance in brief: The district preserves the settlement pattern of the 18th-century presidio, including its diamond-shaped orientation, plaza, chapel and irrigation ditches. Its adobe buildings reflect Spanish Colonial Revival and Territorial styles and form a cohesive streetscape from 1790 to 1945. Archeological sites in the district hold artifacts and deposits related to the presidio and 19th-century village life.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 97000205, listed February 27, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Rio Grande St., Socorro and Convent Rds., and the San Elizario Lateral, San Elizario |
|---|---|
| County | El Paso County |
| Listed | February 27, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000205 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1790-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Trost and Trost (El Paso firm) designed the 1936 San Elizario Middle School; the Civilian Conservation Corps built the health center and improved the lateral |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival; Other: Territorial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture, Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Commerce, Community Planning and Development, Hispanic, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Retains a high degree of integrity; 42 of 68 resources are contributing. Uses include homes, a church, a school and a restaurant. |
| Acreage | 27.2 |
| Within district | El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1 |
| Coordinates | 31.58526, -106.27292 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 97000205.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107030079
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.