In the late 1800s, El Paso was one of the most dangerous towns in the American West, where lawlessness and gunfights were as common as the desert wind. Saloons lined the streets, notorious outlaws roamed freely, and justice was often enforced by the fastest draw. The city earned its infamous nickname, the “Six Shooter Capital,” through a violent reputation built on duels, power struggles, and vigilante justice.

By the time the Southern Pacific Railroad arrived in 1881, El Paso had transformed from a quiet border outpost into a booming frontier town. Cowboys, miners, gamblers, and outlaws flooded the city, turning it into a hotspot for saloons, gambling halls, and high-stakes disputes. Establishments like the Coney Island Saloon and the Globe Restaurant became known for hosting infamous gunslingers, and deadly shootouts over debts, land claims, and bar fights were reported in newspapers almost daily.

The high murder rate cemented El Paso’s reputation as one of the most dangerous places in the West. Local lawmen often struggled to keep order, and in many cases, justice was left to the barrel of a gun.

The Gunfighters Who Ruled El Paso’s Streets

The Wild West era brought legendary figures to El Paso—outlaws, gunslingers, and lawmen who shaped the town’s violent past.

John Wesley Hardin, one of Texas’s most feared gunfighters, claimed to have killed over 40 men before he turned 25. After serving 16 years in prison, he moved to El Paso in 1894, hoping to reinvent himself as a lawyer. But his past caught up with him. On August 19, 1895, in the Acme Saloon, Hardin was shot in the back of the head by lawman John Selman, marking the bloody end of his reign.

Dallas Stoudenmire, one of the most feared lawmen in Texas, was appointed town marshal in 1881. Just days after taking the job, he made his mark in the infamous “Four Dead in Five Seconds” gunfight. A Mexican posse accused of horse theft was arrested in El Paso, and when tensions escalated, gunfire erupted. In a matter of seconds, Stoudenmire pulled his Colt revolvers, killing three men while his deputy took down another. His deadly precision quickly brought him a fearsome reputation, but it also made him enemies. In 1882, he was assassinated in a political feud.

John Selman, known for his role in Hardin’s murder, walked a fine line between lawman and outlaw. He began his career as a Texas Ranger but later led a gang of cattle rustlers. By the 1890s, he was working as a constable in El Paso. His final act of violence came at the Acme Saloon, where he gunned down Hardin over a long-standing gambling feud. Months later, Selman himself was killed in another gunfight, proving that even lawmen in El Paso weren’t immune to the town’s deadly cycle of violence.

The End of El Paso’s Wild West Era

By the late 1890s, El Paso began its transformation from a lawless frontier town into a modern city. The expansion of law enforcement brought structure to a once-chaotic justice system, while economic development in railroads, ranching, and industry shifted the city’s focus away from saloons and shootouts. Families and businesses settled in, changing the town’s culture and slowly fading its Wild West reputation.

Though El Paso has long since moved beyond its gunslinging days, its Wild West legacy remains an integral part of its identity. Historic landmarks, old cemeteries, and preserved saloon sites serve as reminders of a time when six-shooters ruled the streets. Visitors today can explore Concordia Cemetery, the final resting place of John Wesley Hardin and other famous gunfighters, or walk through downtown El Paso, where the ghosts of the Old West still linger in the city’s rich history.