Imperial County, California
Imperial County, California | |
---|---|
County of Imperial | |
Images, from top down, left to right: The fields of Imperial Valley, Salton Sea , Imperial County Courthouse | |
Country | United States |
State | California
|
Board of Supervisors
[1][2][3][4][5] | |
• Chair | Luis A. Plancarte (N.P.) |
• Vice Chair | John Hawk (N.P.) |
• Board of Supervisors[6] | |
• FIPS code | 06-025 |
GNIS feature ID | 277277 |
Congressional district | 25th |
Website | www |
Imperial County (
Imperial County is located in the far southeast of California, in the
Although this region is a desert, with high temperatures and low average rainfall of 3 inches (76 mm) per year,[13] the economy is strongly based on agriculture. This is supported by irrigation, with water supplied wholly from the Colorado River via the All-American Canal.[14]
The Imperial Valley straddles the border between the United States and Mexico. Imperial County is strongly influenced by Mexican culture. Approximately 80% of the county's population is Hispanic, with the vast majority being of Mexican origin. The remainder of the population is predominantly non-Hispanic white, in addition to smaller African American, Native American, and Asian minorities.
History
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2009) |
The indigenous peoples of the area were the Quechan along the Colorado River, the Kamia-Kumeyaay west of the Quechan, and the Cahuilla to the north.
Decades later, after the Mexican–American War, the northern half of the valley was annexed in 1848 by the U.S., while the southern half remained under Mexican rule.
Following the war, another war would consume the region in 1850 after the
Small-scale settlement in natural aquifer areas had occurred in the early 19th century (the present-day site of Mexicali), but most permanent settlement was after 1900.[18]
In 1905, torrential rainfall in the American Southwest caused the Colorado River (the only drainage for the region) to flood, including canals that had been built to irrigate the Imperial Valley. Since the valley is partially below sea level, the waters never fully receded, but collected in the Salton Sink in what is now called the Salton Sea.
Imperial County was formed in 1907 from the eastern portion of San Diego County. The county was named for Imperial Valley. This had been named for the Imperial Land Company, a subsidiary of the California Development Company, which at the turn of the 20th century had claimed the southern portion of the Colorado Desert for agriculture.[19] The Imperial Land Company also owned extensive lands in Mexico (Baja California). Its objective was to develop commercial crop farming.
By 1910, the land company had managed to settle and develop thousands of farms on both sides of the border. The Mexican Revolution soon after severely disrupted the company's plans. Rival Mexican armies affiliated with different ethnicities killed nearly 10,000 farmers and their families in northern Mexico. Not until the 1920s was the other side of California in the United States sufficiently peaceful and prosperous for the company to earn a return for a large percentage of Mexicans. Some chose to stay and create roots in newly developed communities in the valley.
During the
During the Great Recession of 2008–11, El Centro had one of the highest unemployment rates (above 30–34%) in the U.S. In the early 2020s, Imperial ranks as one of California's poorest counties. It has a lower median household income than either the state or national medians.[20]
Sites of interest
Fort Yuma
Blue Angels
Imperial Valley Expo & Fairgrounds
The city of Imperial is home to the California Mid-Winter Fair and Fiesta which is the local county fair, held in late February to early March.[23] It is also home to the Imperial Valley Speedway, a race track of 3⁄8 mile (600 m).[24]
Algodones Sand Dunes
Colorado River
The Colorado River streams through the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately 1,450 miles (2,330 km) long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The natural course of the river flows from north of Grand Lake, Colorado, into the Gulf of California. For many months out of the year, however, no water actually flows from the United States to the gulf, due to human use.[26] The river is a popular destination for water sports, including fishing, boating, water skiing, and jet skiing.[27]
Salvation Mountain
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Fossil Canyon and Painted Gorge
Located near Ocotillo, California in the Coyote Mountains, Fossil Canyon (and the surrounding area) is a great place for rock-hounding and fossil hunting. The fossils here are not necessarily of dinosaurs; more commonly found are ancient oyster and seashell, coral, and other marine life from the prehistoric Miocene epoch, when the entire area was submerged as part of the Western Interior Seaway.[29]
The Painted Gorge, located on the eastern side of the Coyote Mountains, consists of
Imperial NWR
The Imperial National Wildlife Refuge protects wildlife habitat along 30 miles (50 km) of the lower Colorado River in Arizona and California, including the last un-channeled section before the river enters Mexico. The river and its associated backwater lakes and wetlands are a green oasis, contrasting with the surrounding desert mountains. It is a refuge and breeding area for migratory birds and local desert wildlife.[31]
Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR
The Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge is located 40 miles (64 km) north of the Mexican border at the southern end of the Salton Sea in California's Imperial Valley. Situated along the Pacific Flyway, the refuge is the only one of its kind, located 227 feet (69 m) below sea level. Because of its southern latitude, elevation, and location in the Colorado Desert, the refuge experiences some of the highest temperatures in the nation. Daily temperatures from May to October generally exceed 100 °F (38 °C) with temperatures of 116–120 °F (47–49 °C) recorded yearly.[32]
Museum of History in Granite
The Museum of History in Granite in the town of Felicity exhibits granite monuments made from Missouri Red Granite. Each is 100 feet (30 m) long. Subjects include a Korean War Memorial, History of Arizona, The Wall for the Ages, the eight monument History of Humanity, and the History of the United States of America. Smaller monuments include the Felicity Stone (sm), a Rosetta Stone for the future located at the center of the History of Humanity monuments.
Geography
According to the
Imperial county is bordered on the north by Riverside County; on the east by Yuma County, Arizona; on the south by Mexico; and on the west by San Diego County. The Colorado River forms the county's eastern boundary. Two notable geographic features are found in the county, the Salton Sea, at 235 feet (72 m) below sea level, and the Algodones Dunes, one of the largest dune fields in America.[34]
The county is in the Colorado Desert, an extension of the larger Sonoran Desert. The Chocolate Mountains are located east of the Salton Sea, and extend in a northwest–southeast direction [34] for approximately 60 miles (97 km).
In this region, the
National protected areas
- Cibola National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Imperial National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge
Demographics
2011
Population, race, and income | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total population[35] | 171,343 | ||||
White[35] | 115,496 | 67.4% | |||
Black or African American[35] | 5,985 | 3.5% | |||
American Indian or Alaska Native[35] | 3,020 | 1.8% | |||
Asian[35] | 2,757 | 1.6% | |||
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander[35] | 83 | 0.0% | |||
Some other race[35] | 38,604 | 22.5% | |||
Two or more races[35] | 5,398 | 3.2% | |||
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[36] | 136,376 | 79.6% | |||
Per capita income[37] | $16,593 | ||||
Median household income[38] | $39,402 | ||||
Median family income[39] | $43,769 |
Places by population, race, and income
Places by population and race | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place | Type[40] | Population[35] | White[35] | Other[35] [note 1] |
Asian[35] | Black or African American[35] |
Native American[35] [note 2] |
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[36] |
Bombay Beach | CDP | 459 | 69.7% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 30.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Brawley | City |
26,645 | 78.0% | 16.2% | 0.9% | 4.2% | 0.7% | 80.1% |
Calexico | City |
40,378 | 64.4% | 34.1% | 1.0% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 96.4% |
Calipatria | City |
7,292 | 66.8% | 21.1% | 1.5% | 9.0% | 1.7% | 75.5% |
Desert Shores | CDP | 1,104 | 94.4% | 5.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 86.3% |
El Centro | City |
44,206 | 65.1% | 28.6% | 2.6% | 3.1% | 0.7% | 79.6% |
Heber | CDP | 6,008 | 57.7% | 39.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.2% | 98.6% |
Holtville | City |
6,088 | 68.0% | 29.0% | 1.0% | 0.4% | 1.6% | 80.5% |
Imperial | City |
18,206 | 76.4% | 17.5% | 2.3% | 2.4% | 1.4% | 76.1% |
Niland | CDP | 1,112 | 86.7% | 8.7% | 0.0% | 1.2% | 3.4% | 61.7% |
Ocotillo | CDP | 253 | 98.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.2% | 7.1% |
Palo Verde | CDP | 171 | 73.0% | 22.8% | 1.0% | 3.0% | 1.0% | 19.0% |
Salton City | CDP | 3,768 | 77.2% | 20.0% | 0.0% | 2.8% | 0.0% | 47.9% |
Salton Sea Beach | CDP | 598 | 63.0% | 10.2% | 1.8% | 0.0% | 24.9% | 53.8% |
Seeley | CDP | 1,683 | 79.8% | 17.8% | 0.0% | 2.4% | 0.0% | 79.1% |
Westmorland | City |
2,714 | 90.7% | 6.2% | 0.0% | 1.1% | 2.0% | 87.9% |
Winterhaven | CDP | 493 | 50.9% | 5.9% | 10.8% | 0.0% | 32.5% | 81.5% |
Places by population and income | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place | Type[40] | Population[41] | Per capita income[37] | Median household income[38] | Median family income[39] |
Bombay Beach | CDP | 459 | $12,439 | $19,375 | $24,063 |
Brawley | City |
26,645 | $17,709 | $36,233 | $43,328 |
Calexico | City |
40,378 | $14,317 | $35,988 | $39,129 |
Calipatria | City |
7,292 | $11,559 | $35,030 | $37,381 |
Desert Shores | CDP | 1,104 | $11,610 | $29,345 | $29,732 |
El Centro | City |
44,206 | $18,273 | $38,297 | $42,417 |
Heber | CDP | 6,008 | $13,540 | $45,044 | $44,444 |
Holtville | City |
6,088 | $20,749 | $40,712 | $42,188 |
Imperial | City |
18,017 | $21,378 | $57,152 | $57,548 |
Niland | CDP | 1,112 | $9,750 | $14,883 | $15,170 |
Ocotillo | CDP | 253 | $15,254 | $17,734 | $20,625 |
Palo Verde | CDP | 171 | $44,003 | $59,676 | [42] |
Salton City | CDP | 3,768 | $16,887 | $32,925 | $34,792 |
Salton Sea Beach | CDP | 598 | $17,791 | $27,375 | $57,159 |
Seeley | CDP | 1,683 | $14,126 | $33,977 | $44,063 |
Westmorland | City |
2,714 | $13,179 | $28,375 | $30,804 |
Winterhaven | CDP | 493 | $9,207 | $35,074 | $35,441 |
2010
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1910 | 12,591 | — | |
1920 | 43,453 | 245.1% | |
1930 | 60,903 | 40.2% | |
1940 | 55,740 | −8.5% | |
1950 | 61,175 | 9.8% | |
1960 | 71,105 | 16.2% | |
1970 | 74,492 | 4.8% | |
1980 | 93,110 | 25.0% | |
1990 | 109,303 | 17.4% | |
2000 | 142,361 | 30.2% | |
2010 | 174,528 | 22.6% | |
2020 | 179,702 | 3.0% | |
2023 (est.) | 179,057 | [43] | −0.4% |
U.S. Decennial Census[44] 1790–1960[45] 1900–1990[46] 1990–2000[47] 2010–2015[9] |
The
Population reported at 2010 United States Census
| |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The County |
Total Population |
White |
African American |
Native American |
Asian |
Pacific Islander |
other races |
two or more races |
Latino (of any race) |
Imperial County | 174,528 | 102,553 | 5,773 | 3,059 | 2,843 | 165 | 52,413 | 7,722 | 140,271 |
Incorporated city |
Total Population |
White |
African American |
Native American |
Asian |
Pacific Islander |
other races |
two or more races |
Latino (of any race) |
Brawley | 24,953 | 13,570 | 510 | 241 | 349 | 32 | 9,258 | 993 | 20,344 |
Calexico | 38,572 | 23,150 | 134 | 204 | 504 | 21 | 12,920 | 1,639 | 37,354 |
Calipatria | 7,705 | 3,212 | 1,612 | 79 | 95 | 25 | 2,455 | 227 | 4,940 |
El Centro | 42,598 | 25,376 | 1,081 | 554 | 965 | 34 | 12,356 | 2,232 | 34,751 |
Holtville | 5,939 | 3,655 | 37 | 41 | 50 | 4 | 1,977 | 175 | 4,858 |
Imperial | 14,758 | 9,298 | 331 | 154 | 370 | 13 | 3,783 | 809 | 11,046 |
Westmorland | 2,225 | 1,038 | 21 | 38 | 11 | 0 | 1,042 | 75 | 1,938 |
Total Population |
White |
African American |
Native American |
Asian |
Pacific Islander |
other races |
two or more races |
Latino (of any race) | |
Bombay Beach | 295 | 223 | 37 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 4 | 59 |
Desert Shores | 1,104 | 709 | 8 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 307 | 49 | 848 |
Heber | 4,275 | 2,174 | 5 | 33 | 15 | 0 | 1,758 | 290 | 4,197 |
Niland | 1,006 | 539 | 36 | 20 | 36 | 0 | 315 | 60 | 618 |
Ocotillo | 266 | 242 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 61 |
Palo Verde | 171 | 124 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 13 | 33 |
Salton City | 3,763 | 2,260 | 80 | 61 | 61 | 5 | 1,159 | 137 | 2,368 |
Salton Sea Beach | 422 | 309 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 82 | 17 | 229 |
Seeley | 1,739 | 746 | 19 | 7 | 21 | 2 | 793 | 151 | 1,489 |
Winterhaven | 394 | 245 | 4 | 37 | 1 | 0 | 84 | 23 | 261 |
Other unincorporated areas |
Total Population |
White |
African American |
Native American |
Asian |
Pacific Islander |
other races |
two or more races |
Latino (of any race) |
All others not CDPs (combined) | 24,343 | 15,683 | 1,849 | 1,546 | 355 | 26 | 4,059 | 825 | 14,877 |
2000
As of the
.There were 39,384 households, out of which 46.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were non-families. 17.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.33 and the average family size was 3.77.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 31.4% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 109.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.4 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,870, and the median income for a family was $35,226. Males had a median income of $32,775 versus $23,974 for females. The
Imperial County has the lowest per capita income of any county in Southern California and among the bottom five counties in the state.
By 2006 the population had risen to 160,201, the population growth rate since the year 2000 was 30%, the highest in California and fifth highest in the United States in the time period. High levels of immigration, new residents search for affordable homes, and a search for retirement homes can explain the population increase.
Government
The county is governed by the Imperial County Board of Supervisors, a five-member board elected by districts.[50] Supervisors serve four-year terms. Other elected county officials include the Assessor,[51] Auditor-Controller,[52] District Attorney,[53] County Clerk-Recorder,[54] Public Administrator,[55] Sheriff-Coroner,[56] and Treasurer-Tax Collector.[57] The county is run on a day-to-day basis by the County Executive Officer, who is currently Robin Hodgkin, on an interim basis. The county is advised as to legal matters by the County Counsel, who is currently Katherine K. Turner.[58][59]
Politics
Voter registration statistics
Population and registered voters | ||
---|---|---|
Total population[35] | 171,343 | |
Registered voters[60][note 3] | 60,690 | 35.4% |
Democratic[60] | 30,599 | 50.4% |
Republican[60] | 14,413 | 23.7% |
Democratic–Republican spread[60] | +16,186 | +26.7% |
American Independent[60] | 1,402 | 2.3% |
Green[60] | 141 | 0.2% |
Libertarian[60] | 215 | 0.4% |
Peace and Freedom[60] | 255 | 0.4% |
Americans Elect[60] | 8 | 0.0% |
Other[60] | 358 | 0.6% |
No party preference[60] | 13,299 | 21.9% |
Cities by population and voter registration
City | Population[35] | Registered voters[60] [note 3] |
Democratic[60] | Republican[60] | D–R spread[60] | Other[60] | No party preference[60] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brawley | 24,645 | 37.1% | 50.5% | 26.7% | +23.8% | 5.9% | 19.1% |
Calexico | 37,378 | 39.0% | 61.8% | 9.7% | +52.1% | 4.2% | 25.6% |
Calipatria | 7,292 | 16.0% | 53.7% | 18.7% | +35.0% | 6.5% | 23.4% |
El Centro | 42,141 | 38.1% | 49.0% | 25.6% | +23.4% | 6.0% | 21.6% |
Holtville | 5,908 | 35.3% | 45.0% | 28.4% | +16.6% | 8.2% | 21.5% |
Imperial | 14,017 | 40.9% | 39.6% | 32.4% | +7.2% | 7.9% | 23.1% |
Westmorland | 1,714 | 42.8% | 56.0% | 19.5% | +36.5% | 7.1% | 20.0% |
Overview
Previously strongly Republican, Imperial County is now a Democratic stronghold in presidential, congressional and local elections. The last Republican to win a majority in the county was
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 20,847 | 36.74% | 34,678 | 61.11% | 1,218 | 2.15% |
2016 | 12,704 | 26.42% | 32,667 | 67.93% | 2,720 | 5.66% |
2012 | 12,777 | 33.13% | 25,136 | 65.18% | 652 | 1.69% |
2008 | 14,008 | 36.08% | 24,162 | 62.24% | 650 | 1.67% |
2004 | 15,890 | 46.36% | 17,964 | 52.41% | 420 | 1.23% |
2000 | 12,524 | 43.28% | 15,489 | 53.53% | 924 | 3.19% |
1996 | 9,705 | 36.76% | 14,591 | 55.27% | 2,104 | 7.97% |
1992 | 9,759 | 38.55% | 11,109 | 43.88% | 4,450 | 17.58% |
1988 | 12,889 | 55.16% | 10,243 | 43.84% | 233 | 1.00% |
1984 | 13,829 | 62.01% | 8,237 | 36.94% | 235 | 1.05% |
1980 | 12,068 | 55.92% | 7,961 | 36.89% | 1,550 | 7.18% |
1976 | 10,618 | 49.94% | 10,244 | 48.18% | 400 | 1.88% |
1972 | 14,178 | 62.05% | 7,982 | 34.93% | 689 | 3.02% |
1968 | 10,818 | 52.91% | 7,481 | 36.59% | 2,147 | 10.50% |
1964 | 10,330 | 48.06% | 11,143 | 51.85% | 19 | 0.09% |
1960 | 10,606 | 53.55% | 9,119 | 46.04% | 81 | 0.41% |
1956 | 10,526 | 56.05% | 8,197 | 43.65% | 58 | 0.31% |
1952 | 11,044 | 62.13% | 6,619 | 37.24% | 112 | 0.63% |
1948 | 6,217 | 52.64% | 5,301 | 44.89% | 292 | 2.47% |
1944 | 5,979 | 53.81% | 5,085 | 45.76% | 48 | 0.43% |
1940 | 6,854 | 46.59% | 7,728 | 52.53% | 130 | 0.88% |
1936 | 4,771 | 38.34% | 7,560 | 60.75% | 113 | 0.91% |
1932 | 3,783 | 29.01% | 8,772 | 67.28% | 484 | 3.71% |
1928 | 5,417 | 67.61% | 2,486 | 31.03% | 109 | 1.36% |
1924 | 3,455 | 50.28% | 759 | 11.04% | 2,658 | 38.68% |
1920 | 4,699 | 64.51% | 2,022 | 27.76% | 563 | 7.73% |
1916 | 2,694 | 40.46% | 3,273 | 49.15% | 692 | 10.39% |
1912 | 13 | 0.39% | 1,295 | 38.46% | 2,059 | 61.15% |
1908 | 909 | 47.64% | 675 | 35.38% | 324 | 16.98% |
On November 4, 2008, Imperial County voted 69.7% for
Imperial County is in
Crime
The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.
Population and crime rates | ||
---|---|---|
Population[35] | 171,343 | |
Violent crime[69] | 590 | 3.44 |
Homicide[69] | 3 | 0.02 |
Forcible rape[69] | 18 | 0.11 |
Robbery[69] | 99 | 0.58 |
Aggravated assault[69] | 470 | 2.74 |
Property crime[69] | 3,134 | 18.29 |
Burglary[69] | 1,758 | 10.26 |
Larceny-theft[69][70] | 2,944 | 17.18 |
Motor vehicle theft[69] | 940 | 5.49 |
Arson[69] | 44 | 0.26 |
Cities by population and crime rates
Cities by population and crime rates | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
City | Population[71] | Violent crimes[71] | Violent crime rate per 1,000 persons |
Property crimes[71] | Property crime rate per 1,000 persons | |||
Brawley | 25,570 | 59 | 2.31 | 1,176 | 45.99 | |||
Calexico | 39,527 | 108 | 2.73 | 1,538 | 38.91 | |||
El Centro | 43,643 | 166 | 3.80 | 2,477 | 56.76 | |||
Holtville | 6,088 | 11 | 1.81 | 98 | 16.10 | |||
Imperial | 15,126 | 7 | 0.46 | 73 | 4.83 | |||
Westmorland | 2,282 | 2 | 0.88 | 9 | 3.94 |
Economy
Thousands of acres of prime farmland have transformed the desert into one of the most productive farming regions in California with an annual crop production of over $1 billion. Agriculture is the largest industry in Imperial County and accounts for 48% of all employment.[72] Although this region is a desert, with high temperatures and low average rainfall of 3 inches (76 mm) per year, the economy is heavily based on agriculture due to irrigation, which is supplied wholly from the Colorado River via the All-American Canal.[13]
A vast system of canals, check dams, and pipelines carry the water all over the valley, a system which forms the Imperial Irrigation District, or IID. The water distribution system includes over 1,400 miles (2,300 km) of canal and with 1,100 miles (1,800 km) of pipeline.[14] The number of canal and pipeline branches number roughly over a hundred. Imported water and a long growing season allow two crop cycles each year, and the Imperial Valley is a major source of winter fruits and vegetables, cotton, and grain for U.S. and international markets. Alfalfa is another major crop produced in the Imperial Valley.[73] The agricultural lands are served by a constructed agricultural drain system, which conveys surface runoff and subsurface drainage from fields to the Salton Sea, which is a designated repository for agricultural runoff.[74] Imperial County produces nearly 2/3 of all vegetables consumed by Americans during the winter.[75]
A recent growth in the interest of Imperial County as a filming location, has spurred growth in servicing this industry.
In 2016, Imperial County had the highest unemployment rate of any county in the United States, at 23.5%.[76]
Cotton in Imperial County and Riverside is predominantly Bt cotton.[77]: Supplemental This is in contrast to the rest of the state, which largely relies on non-incorporated pesticides.[77]: Supplemental The introduction of Bt cotton has dramatically reduced pesticide use here.[77]: Supplemental
Renewable energy
Imperial Valley has become a hotbed of renewable energy projects, both solar and geothermal.
Transportation
Major highways
Imperial County is at the junction of one interstate, and three state highways. Radiating to the east and west are connections to the
Public transportation
Imperial County is served by Greyhound Lines and Imperial Valley Transit buses. Through a partnership between Imperial County Transportation Commission (ICTC), the Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (YCIPTA), and the Quechan Indian Tribe, Yuma County Area Transit buses serve portions of Imperial County and connects it to Yuma, Arizona.[80][81] Amtrak trains on the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle route also travel through the county, but with no scheduled stops; the nearest stop is in Yuma, Arizona.
Airports
County owned
- Imperial County Airport, the county's main airport, is primarily a general aviation facility. It is located just north of El Centro, and has limited commercial flight service subsidized by the Essential Air Service program.
- Holtville Airport is a public use general aviation airport, owned by the county and located roughly 5 miles (8 km) east of Holtville.
Municipal ownership
- Brawley Municipal Airport is a public use general aviation airport, owned by and located in Brawley.
- Interstate 8 on State Route 111. It used in part to service maquiladora factories in nearby Mexicali.
- Cliff Hatfield Memorial Airport is a public use general aviation airport, owned by and located in Calipatria.
Privately owned
- Salton Sea Airport is a public use general aviation airport located in Salton City.
- Douthitt Strip Airportis a private use facility in El Centro. It was formerly a military airfield.
Military
- U.S. Navyairfield in El Centro.
Communities
Cities
- Brawley
- Calexico
- Calipatria
- El Centro (county seat)
- Holtville
- Imperial
- Westmorland
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
Former settlements
Indian Reservations
- Fort Yuma Indian Reservation (partially in Yuma County, Arizona)
- Torres-Martinez Indian Reservation (partially in Riverside County)
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Imperial County.[82]
† county seat
Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2010 Census) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | † El Centro | City | 42,598 |
2 | Calexico | City | 38,572 |
3 | Brawley | City | 24,953 |
4 | Imperial | City | 14,758 |
5 | Calipatria | City | 7,705 |
6 | Holtville | City | 5,939 |
7 | Torres-Martinez Reservation[83]
|
AIAN | 5,594 |
8 | Heber | CDP | 4,275 |
9 | Salton City | CDP | 3,763 |
10 | Westmorland | City | 2,225 |
11 | Fort Yuma Indian Reservation[84] (partially in Yuma County, AZ) | AIAN | 2,189 |
12 | Seeley | CDP | 1,739 |
13 | Desert Shores | CDP | 1,104 |
14 | Niland | CDP | 1,006 |
15 | Salton Sea Beach | CDP | 422 |
16 | Winterhaven | CDP | 394 |
17 | Bombay Beach | CDP | 295 |
18 | Ocotillo | CDP | 266 |
19 | Palo Verde | CDP | 171 |
Area codes
In popular culture
As a filming location
- Scenes for the 2006 film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstanwere filmed in Imperial County, but were not used in the finished film.
- The majority of Jarhead and The Salton Sea were filmed in the Imperial Valley.
- Scenes from Top Gun were filmed at Naval Air Facility El Centro
- American Sniper was filmed in El Centro in fall 2014.
- Scenes from Jumanji: The Next Level were filmed in Imperial Dunes the spring of 2019.
Cultural references
- Part of Independence Day takes place in the Imperial Valley.
- Tucson-based indie rock band Calexico is named after Calexico.
- The 2009 nonfiction book Imperial by William T. Vollmann documents the history and culture of Imperial County. A companion volume of photographs was published August 18, 2009.
- The Mayans MCtakes place in Santo Padre, a fictional town in Imperial County.
- The video game Grand Theft Auto V features a county named Blaine County, which is based on Imperial County.
- In the 1963 film, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, Ethel Merman's character is heard talking on a phone to her son, saying that she was "in some place called Plaster City." Plaster City is an unincorporated community in Imperial County.
Education
School districts are:[85]
Unified:
Secondary:
Elementary:
- Brawley Elementary School District
- El Centro Elementary School District
- Heber Elementary School District
- Magnolia Union Elementary School District
- McCabe Union Elementary School District
- Meadows Union Elementary School District
- Mulberry Elementary School District
- Seeley Union Elementary School District
- Westmorland Union Elementary School District
See also
- Niland Geyser
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Imperial County, California
- Southern Border Region (California)
- Walters Camp
Notes
References
- ^ "Jesus Eduardo Escobar, Supervisor, District 1 from Imperial County, California".
- ^ "Luis A. Plancarte, Supervisor, District 2 from Imperial County, California".
- ^ "Michael W. Kelley, Supervisor, District 3 from Imperial County, California".
- ^ "Ryan e. Kelley, Supervisor, District 4 from Imperial County, California".
- ^ "John Hawk Castillo, Supervisor, District 5 from Imperial County, California".
- ^ "Home".
- ^ "Blue Angels Peak". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
- ^ Southern shore of the Salton Sea
- ^ a b c "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
- ^ "American FactFinder". Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
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- ^ a b "Water Supply". Imperial Irrigation District. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
- ^ a b "Water Transportation System". Imperial Irrigation District.
- ^ "De Anza Trail". Solideas.com. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
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- ^ "This corner of California is suffering economic misery despite boom all around it". Los Angeles Times. February 5, 2019.
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts". Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- ^ "Fort Yuma". Militarymuseum.org. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
- ^ "Blue Angels Official Website". Blueangels.navy.mil. Archived from the original on April 30, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
- ^ "2019 California Mid-Winter Fair and Fiesta opens Friday". The Desert Review. February 25, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ "Imperial Valley Expo". Ivexpo.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
- ^ "Algodones Sand Dunes". Retrieved August 5, 2009.
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- ^ "Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge". Retrieved August 4, 2009.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ^ a b "Imperial County". Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website . Retrieved October 26, 2013.
- ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. U.S. Census website . Retrieved October 26, 2013.
- ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. U.S. Census website . Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website . Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website . Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website . Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. U.S. Census website . Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ Data unavailable
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
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- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ^ "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
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- ^ "Board of Supervisors". Co.imperial.ca.us. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
- ^ "Welcome to the Imperial County Assessor's Office". Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
- ^ "County of Imperial - Auditor". Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
- ^ "Home". Co.imperial.ca.us. Archived from the original on October 28, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ website, Designed by Leonel Ibarra for The County of Imperial based on ca.gov. "Imperial County Clerk / Recorder Department". Co.imperial.ca.us. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Public AdministratorArea Agency on Aging". Public Administrator Area Agency on Aging. Archived from the original on October 22, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Imperial County Sheriffs's Office". Icso.org. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "County of Imperial – TC – TR". Co.imperial.ca.us. Archived from the original on October 31, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "County Counsel – County of Imperial". Co.imperial.ca.us. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Board selects first woman to County Counsel". Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 – Report of Registration Archived July 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Proposition 8 Map – November 4, 2008, General Election – California Secretary of State". Sos.ca.gov. Archived from the original on August 8, 2009. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
- ^ "Registration by County". Sos.ca.gov. Archived from the original on October 12, 2009. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
- ^ Fagan, Kevin (August 26, 2010). "Imperial County steps up to defend Prop. 8". The San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 25, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
- ^ Denniston, Lyle (February 6, 2012). "Prop. 8: Final ruling due". SCOTUSblog. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
- ^ "California's 25th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
- ^ a b c United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California). Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ a b c "El Centro Chamber of Commerce". Archived from the original on November 3, 2010. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
- ^ Field Seeds, Grass Seeds, Forage, Hay, and Silage: 2017 and 2012 (PDF) (Report). US Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. 2017. p. 8. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
- ^ "IID". Archived from the original on June 3, 2009. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
- ^ "Quick Facts About Imperial County Agriculture" (PDF). Imperial County Farm Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 18, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ "Labor Force Data by County, 2016 Annual Averages". U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
- ^ PMID 14527333.
- ^ a b c d e "Calif. Desert Becomes Home For Renewable Energy", Rob Schmitz, Morning Edition, April 3, 2009, NPR
- ^ Olson, Syanne (February 18, 2011). "AES Solar buys Tessera Solar's Imperial Valley project with intent to turn CSP into PV". PV Tech. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
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- ^ "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
- ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search". Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- ^ [2] [dead link]
- U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 25, 2022. - Text list