Eagle Pass is located south of Del Rio along US 277 and US 57, Farm Road 1021, and the Southern Pacific Railroad in the far western part of Maverick County, on the banks of the Rio Grande River near the United States/Mexico border.
As the county seat, the early history of Eagle Pass was often characterized by violence. The settlement and adjoining fort were frequently attacked by the Lipan Apache and Comanche Indians. Piedras Negras, established in 1850 across from Eagle Pass in Mexico, became a haven for fugitive slaves, and both banks of the river were infested with outlaws.
The completion of Hwy 57 made it a major gateway to Mexico, along with Piedras Negras, drawing tourist trade.
Five industrial plants were located in Eagle Pass and 19 in Piedras Negras by 1987. Textile and arms manufacturing were the leading employers. In 1990 the population had dropped a bit to 20,651, but Eagle Pass remains a center for county government, tourism, and varied manufacturing.