Urban Patterns

Juarez Industry

Death Rates Overview

Optimism in Juarez

In 2007 Ciudad Juarez was named the fDi North American Large Cities of the Future Overall Winner. The city was also awarded the Most Cost Effective, and Top-5 Best Infrastructure, while El Paso hauled in Best Human Resources, as well as, Runner-Up for Overall Winner and Most Cost Effective.

Its not surprising that the outlook for Ciudad Juarez was so optimistic given its booming industry and dominant supporting roll for the American economy. Here is a glimpse of that future vision. 

Welcome to Ciudad Juarez

Ciudad Juarez is a city currently experiencing extreme developments which are effecting it physically, socially, and economically. 

This borderplex is situated along the boundary dividing the United States and Mexico and is created through the combined space of itself and El Paso, TX.

The El Paso-Juarez borderplex is relatively separated from other major cities because of its distance from the more populous regions of US and Mexico. It is located along the Rio Grande in the Chihuahua Desert.

The border between these two countries runs directly through the city and takes on many forms. It is seen through the physical land characteristics such as the desert and the river. Man-made borders are also visible in the form of fences, walls, check points and towers. With new technologies virtual boarders have been developed with the use of sensors, night vision cameras, and heat sensory technology. As the drug and human trafficking industries have grown so have the connections from one side of the border to the other. The most notable new connections are through underground tunnels and aerial transportation of goods.

The drug trade has led to some of the most recent manifestations of extreme conditions in Juarez. With the United States' position as the largest consumer of recreational drugs Mexico's role as producer and distributor has developed bringing with it crime and corruption.  

 

Juarez has seen the largest effects from these developments in the drug trafficking industry. Since 2006 Juarez has experienced 3000 drug related murders each year and in 2009 experienced the largest murder rate of any city outside of a declared war zone.

While these developments are not the only things forming and altering the urban conditions in Juarez they are the most apparent and extreme upon an initial glance at the city.