San Elizario, Texas, is a city rich in history and culture, located in El Paso County, about 17 miles southeast of downtown El Paso. The city's history dates back to 1598 when Juan de Oñate and his caravan stopped along the Rio Grande. San Elizario was once the largest town in the area and the original county seat of El Paso County. It played a crucial role during the Spanish era as a military base named San Elceario, established to protect the community from Apache attacks.