Demographics (2018): 84.6% Hispanic, 10.4% Non-Hispanic White, 3.4% Black, 2.1% Asian
Population (2010): 174,528
Growth rate: Fast (27% since 2000)
President: 52.41% D/46.36% R (2004); 62.24% D/36.08% R (2008); 65.18% D/33.13% R (2012); 67.93% D/26.42% R (2016)
% Bachelor’s (2018): 14.5%
The southeasternmost county of California, Imperial is the newest county in California, having been formed in 1907. While the county is desert, the economy is heavily based on year-round agriculture, especially winter crops, watered by canals from the Colorado River including the All-American Canal. Most of the population consists of working-class Hispanics as well as about 500 landowning families.
Much of the Imperial Valley is below sea level. Heavy rains in the early 20th century resulted in flooding from the Colorado River that created the Salton Sea.
Imperial County's agricultural history goes back to the Imperial Land Company, its namesake, which developed the land for commercial crop production. The Great Depression and Dust Bowl brought migrant farmworkers in the 1930 and 1940s.
The farms in Imperial County were highly beneficial to the company and the valley in the 1960s, but now the county has some of the highest unemployment and poverty rates. In this time, Imperial trended from a Republican-leaning county to a strongly Democratic county.
Runoff from the Colorado into the wetlands around the Salton Sea, as well as dust from the rapidly evaporating sea are exacerbating the water wars, as much of their water was sold off to the big cities. These water wars can be seen between the landowners and the Imperial Irrigation District, the most powerful board of elected officials in the area.
Demographics (2018): 86.3% Hispanic, 9.0% Non-Hispanic White, 2.3% Asian, 2.1% Black
Population (2010): 42,598
President: 53.61% D / 45.35% R (2004); 61.84% D / 36.62% R (2008); 64.71% D / 33.65% R (2012); 68.87% D / 26.07% R (2016)
% Bachelor's (2018): 17.7%
El Centro is the largest city in the United States that is situated below sea level, at 42 feet below sea level. In the early 20th century El Centro became the county seat and grew rapidly after winning a horse race to become the county seat.
Its location near rail lines and some highways led to agriculture having a significant share of the local economy in the 1940s, while government, especially prisons and border patrol, and trade took larger shares later on.
Demographics (2018): 97.8% Hispanic, 1.2% Non-Hispanic White, 0.6% Asian, 0.4% Black
Population (2010): 38,573
President: 73.38% D / 25.16% R (2004); 82.68% D / 15.75% R (2008); 85.73% D / 13.03% R (2012); 86.30% D / 9.78% R (2016)
% Bachelor's (2018): 15.3%
Calexico is economically closely linked with Mexicali across the Mexican border, with many from the latter coming to work in agriculture or shop and many from the former going to visit relatives. Both cities are portmanteaus of California and Mexico.
Calexico started out as a tent city set up by the Imperial Land Company, which changed the desert into fertile lands for agriculture year round.
The national Red Ribbon Week that increases awareness of drug use prevention began in Calexico in the 1980s honor of Drug Enforcement Administration officer Enrique Camarena and was promoted by First Lady Nancy Reagan.
Demographics (2018): 82.8% Hispanic, 12.6% Non-Hispanic White, 1.8% Black, 0.9% Asian
Population (2010): 24,953
President: 52.51% D / 46.40% R (2004); 59.14% D / 39.39% R (2008); 61.62% D / 36.87% R (2012); 62.42% D / 32.30% R (2016)
% Bachelor's (2018): 13.5%
Brawley was named by the Imperial Land Company after local landowner J.H. Braly, but changed after Braly wouldn't allow his name to be used.
Brawley started out as a "tent city" of railroad workers. Now, economic activity consists of year-round agriculture and cattle ranching. Brawley hosts the Cattle Call Rodeo.
Demographics (2018): 77.1% Hispanic, 17.0% Non-Hispanic White, 3.0% Asian, 1.7% Black
Population (2010): 14,758
President: 57.80% R / 41.19% D (2004); 54.04% D / 44.12% R (2008); 53.79% D / 44.07% R (2012); 55.43% D / 39.17% R (2016)
% Bachelor's (2018): 21.4%
Imperial was named by George Chaffey and was the first city in the Imperial Valley to incorporate. It became the home of the Imperial Irrigation District and was considered for the county seat, which ended up going to El Centro.
Today Imperial and the surrounding areas are tourist destinations for dune buggy riding, camping, golfing, and the California Midwinter Festival.
Demographics (2018): 75.6% Hispanic, 15.9% Black, 5.8% Non-Hispanic White, 0.9% Asian
President: 50.19% D / 48.06% R (2004); 62.15% D / 34.46% R (2008); 68.14% D / 31.10% R (2012); 66.40% D / 27.62% R (2016)
% Bachelor's (2018): 2.2%
Calipatria has the lowest altitude of any city in the Western Hemisphere at 180 feet below sea level. They claim to have the "tallest flagpole" at 184 feet so the flag flies above sea level! (The actual world's tallest flagpole is in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but is completely above sea level.
Founded by the Imperial Valley Farm Lands Association as Date City, Calipatria was also called "Sante Patria" or Saint of the Motherland, by Irish-American and Irish-Mexican soldiers who deserted the Mexican War and American Civil War. Many Arabs from Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria also came to work the fields. The agriculture-heavy economy meant that Calipatria had one of the state's lowest incomes per capita.
Demographics (2018): 82.7% Hispanic, 15.8% Non-Hispanic White, 1.8% Asian, 0.5% Black
President: 49.43% D / 49.43% R (2004); 54.78% D / 44.59% R (2008); 59.39% D / 38.38% R (2012); 64.95% D / 29.54% R (2016)
% Bachelor's (2018): 13.5%
Holtville was settled by Swiss Germans in the 1880s, who actually came from Mexico. Originally called Holton, Holtville was founded by W.F. Holt and was changed from Holton because the latter's name could have been confused with the city of Colton, Southern Pacific Railroad Headquarters, in San Bernardino County.
Holtville is very well known for its Carrot Festival held every mid-winter, and for confusion by Bugs Bunny (who is seeking the Carrot Festival) with the Coachella Valley!
Demographics (2010): 98.2% Hispanic, <1% Non-Hispanic White, 0.4% Black, 0.1% Asian
President: .% D / .% R (2004); .% D / .% R (2008); .% D / .% R (2012); .% D / .% R (2016)
% Bachelor's (2018): Unknown
Heber was named after the president of the California Development Company, A.H. Heber.
Demographics (2010): 62.9% Hispanic, Unknown Non-Hispanic White, 2.1% Black, 1.6% Asian
President: .% D / .% R (2004); .% D / .% R (2008); .% D / .% R (2012); .% D / .% R (2016)
% Bachelor's (2018): Unknown
Salton City originally had major development plans as the largest settlement on the Salton Sea coast. It would have been a major resort community that could have a population of 40,000. However, because of its isolation and not many options for employment, demand fell drastically short of the goals. More than 80% of lots in Salton City are still undeveloped and more than a third of residences are unoccupied.
The rising waters of the Salton Sea in the 1970s and increased salinity and pollution in the 1980s and 1990s didn't help matters either. This made Salton City look like a modern ghost town. However, now with rising home prices elsewhere, the cheap land Salton City sits on became a draw at the turn of the 21st century.
Earthquakes are extremely common around the Salton Sea because of many fractured fault lines, but are mostly swarms of small earthquakes that cause no damage. Scenarios of "The Big One" start at Bombay Beach nearby.
Demographics (2010): 87.1% Hispanic, Unknown Non-Hispanic White, 0.9% Black, 0.5% Asian
President: 52.49% D / 45.30% R (2004); 63.39% D / 35.04% R (2008); 64.99% D / 33.87% R (2012); 72.80% D / 23.93% R (2016)
% Bachelor's (2018): Unknown
Westmorland originally had an "e" in its name, Westmoreland, until 1936. In the early to mid-20th century Westmorland had many illegal gaming places and brothels, but they were later removed. Westmorland historically struggled with high poverty and a barely-existing food shipping industry until the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Demographics (2010): 85.6% Hispanic, Unknown Non-Hispanic White, 1.2% Asian, 1.1% Black
President: .% D / .% R (2004); .% D / .% R (2008); .% D / .% R (2012); .% D / .% R (2016)
% Bachelor's (2018): Unknown
Seeley is named after developer Henry Seeley and is one of the oldest communities of Imperial County. Seeley started out as a stage stop on the now-gone "Blue Lake" named Silsbee.
Demographics (2010): 76.8% Hispanic, Unknown Non-Hispanic White, 0.7% Black, 0.4% Asian
President: .% D / .% R (2004); .% D / .% R (2008); .% D / .% R (2012); .% D / .% R (2016)
% Bachelor's (2018): Unknown
On the shore of the Salton Sea, Desert Shores, formerly known as Fish Springs, was the subject of the 2019 film of the same name, based on George McCormick's short story collection Salton Sea.
Demographics (2010): 61.4% Hispanic, Unknown Non-Hispanic White, 3.6% Asian, 3.6% Black
President: .% D / .% R (2004); .% D / .% R (2008); .% D / .% R (2012); .% D / .% R (2016)
% Bachelor's (2018): Unknown
Originally called Old Beach and Hobgood after pioneer Richard H. Hobgood, Niland became Niland after "Nile Land", because the area was thought to be fertile at some point.
The Slab City camp nearby got its name from old concrete slabs left over from a World War II Marine base. The Slabs have historically attracted snowbirds, but some live there year round, either because of poverty or a desire to live off the grid. The entrance is easily recognized by a colorful small hill called Salvation Mountain.