Puerto Palomas de Villa, also known simply as Palomas, is a small town of 4,688 [1] people in the municipality of Ascensión, in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It borders on the village of Columbus, New Mexico, in the United States.
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Palomas is located in the Chihuahuan Desert at an approximate elevation of 4100 feet (1250 m) above sea level and as a result of this rather high elevation, in addition to its location in the far north of Mexico, it receives about 5 inches of snow each year.
Puerto Palomas is an alternative border crossing for the El Paso area, approximately 90 minutes west of El Paso. Most US tourists come to purchase low cost prescription drugs, get dental work done or to visit "The Pink Store and Restaurant" [2]. The store has arts and crafts from all across Mexico, while the restaurant is known for its dishes made from queso menonita produced in the state of Chihuahua.[3] There is a hotel located a few blocks away from The Pink Store at the corner of Progreso and 5 de Mayo Avenue.[4]
It was from here that Pancho Villa launched his attack on Columbus, New Mexico, on March 9, 1916. In retaliation, the United States launched the Pancho Villa Expedition, under General John J. Pershing, to capture Pancho Villa. Despite over a year of effort, including one of the first large scale uses of motorized transport by the U.S. Army, Pancho Villa was not captured. During this campaign, a young officer Lt. George S. Patton, later to be known as General Patton, was to become famous. During his service, Patton, accompanied by ten soldiers of the 6th Infantry Regiment, killed two Mexican leaders, including "General" Julio Cárdenas, commander of Villa's personal bodyguard. For this action, as well as Patton's affinity for the Colt Peacemaker, Pershing titled Patton his "Bandito." Patton's success in this regard gained him a level of fame in the United States, and he was featured in newspapers across the nation.
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