View source for El Centro, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{redirect|El Centro}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2009}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = El Centro, California
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = U.S. Post Office Building, El Centro, California.jpg
| photo2a = Imperial County Superior Courthouse El Centro Night.jpg
| spacing = 2
| position = center
| color_border = white
| color = white
| size = 280
| foot_montage = Top: U.S. Post Office;<br/> Bottom: Imperial County Superior Courthouse}}
| image_flag         =
| image_seal         = Seal of El Centro, California.png
| image_map          = File:Imperial County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas El Centro Highlighted 0621782.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of El Centro in Imperial County, California
| pushpin_map        = USA California Southern#USA California#USA
| pushpin_label      = El Centro
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| coordinates        = {{coord|32|48|N|115|34|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{Flag|California}}
| subdivision_name2  = [[Imperial County, California|Imperial]]
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = April 16, 1908<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc
 |title=California Cities by Incorporation Date
 |format=Word
 |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s
 |access-date=April 8, 2013
|url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc
 |archive-date=November 3, 2014
}}</ref>
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Sonia Carter<ref>{{cite web|title=El Centro City Council|url=https://www.cityofelcentro.org/176/City-Council|website=City of El Centro|access-date=August 23, 2025}}</ref>
<!-- Area------------------>
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020|archive-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116044541/https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_06.txt|url-status=live}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 30.72
| area_total_sq_mi   = 11.86
| area_land_km2      = 30.67
| area_land_sq_mi    = 11.84
| area_water_km2     = 0.05
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.02
| area_water_percent = 0.16
| area_note          = 
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis>{{Cite GNIS|1656501|El Centro}}</ref>
| elevation_m        = -12
| elevation_ft       = -42
| population_total   = 44322
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_density_km2 = 1437.12
| population_density_sq_mi = 3722.26
| population_urban   = 
| population_metro   = 
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 92243-92244
| area_code          = [[Area codes 442 and 760|442/760]]
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
| website            = {{URL|www.cityofelcentro.org}}
| footnotes          = 
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = PDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 06-21782
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS 4|1656501}}, {{GNIS 4|2410409}}
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
}}

'''El Centro''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "The Center") is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Imperial County, California]], United States. El Centro is the most populous city in the [[Imperial Valley]], the east anchor of the [[Southern California]] [[Southern Border Region (California)|Border Region]], and the core urban area and principal city of the [[Imperial County, California|El Centro metropolitan area]] which encompasses all of Imperial County. El Centro is also the most populous U.S. city to lie entirely below sea level ({{convert|-42|ft|m|disp=or|sp=us}}).{{Citation needed|date=March 2018}} The city, located in southeastern California, is {{convert|113|mi|km|}} from [[San Diego]] and less than {{convert|20|mi|km|}} from the Mexican city of [[Mexicali]].

The city was founded in 1906 by W. F. Holt and C.A. Barker, who purchased the land on which El Centro was eventually built for about {{convert|40|$/acre|$/ha|abbr=off|-1}} and invested $100,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|100000|1906|r=-5}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) in improvements. The modern city is home to retail, transportation, wholesale, and agricultural industries. There are also two international border crossings nearby for commercial and noncommercial vehicles. El Centro's census population as of 2020 was 44,322, up from 42,598 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 Census]].

==History==
Spanish explorer [[Melchor Díaz]] was one of the first Europeans to visit the area around El Centro and Imperial Valley in 1540. The explorer [[Juan Bautista de Anza]] also explored the area in 1776<ref name="deanzatrail">{{Cite web|url=http://www.solideas.com/DeAnza/TrailGuide/Imperial/index.html|title=De Anza Trail|access-date=August 3, 2009|archive-date=July 5, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705234710/http://www.solideas.com/DeAnza/TrailGuide/Imperial/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> (an elementary school in El Centro now bears his name). Years later, after the [[Mexican–American War]], the northern half of the valley was annexed by the U.S., while the southern half remained under Mexican rule. Small scale settlement in natural aquifer areas occurred in the early 19th century (the present-day site of [[Mexicali]]), but most permanent settlement ([[English American|Anglo Americans]] on the U.S. side, Mexicans on the other side) was after 1900.<ref name="stevens"/>

Originally part of [[San Diego County, California|San Diego County]], the Imperial Valley was settled by farmers once water from the Colorado River was diverted via [[Alamo Canal|canals]] to irrigate the desert valley floor.<ref name="stevens">{{cite book |title=Hoover Dam: An American Adventure |last=Stevens |first=Joseph E. |year=1990 |publisher=University of Oklahoma Press |isbn=978-0-8061-2283-0 |pages=12–16 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ga3CBCSP9asC&q=Hoover%20Dam%3A%20An%20American%20Adventure%20wozencraft&pg=PA10 |access-date=May 26, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Sperry|first=Robert L.|title=When the Imperial Valley Fought for its Life|url=https://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/75winter/imperial.htm|work=The Journal of San Diego History|publisher=San Diego Historical Society|access-date=June 2, 2010|archive-date=June 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628231219/http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/75winter/imperial.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1906, the land on which El Centro was later built was purchased by W. F. Holt and C.A. Barker.<ref name="el-centro-history">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cityofelcentro.org/history.html|title=History of the City of El Centro|publisher=City of El Centro|access-date=July 13, 2009|archive-date=May 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511095243/http://www.cityofelcentro.org/history.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1907 Imperial County was split off from San Diego County; by then much of the valley was successfully irrigated.<ref name="stevens"/>

Before the town began, the railroad had established a station and named the place Cabarker.<ref name=CGN /> The name honored C.A. Barker, a friend of the landowner.<ref name=CGN /> The first post office in El Centro opened in 1905.<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|1416}}</ref>

The City of El Centro was incorporated on April 16, 1908. Early growth was rapid with the city's population reaching 1,610 by 1910 and more than tripling by 1920 to 5,646 people. One reason for this rapid early growth was El Centro's successful battle with the City of Imperial to become the county seat.<ref name="el-centro-history" /> In these early days, relationships among the cities of the Imperial Valley were often intensely competitive, reflecting the particular frontier character of the area and the fact that six cities within a twenty-mile radius were all established within one generation. These cities were in a horse race to win the prize of being the Valley's leading city and the intense competition is measured by the fact that it took twenty years to get a county fair started because of strong local loyalties on the County Board of Supervisors.

By the mid-1940s, El Centro had become the second largest city in the Imperial Valley, with a population of about 11,000 people. El Centro had also become the location of the [[Imperial Irrigation District]] (IID) administrative offices.<ref name="el-centro-history" />

Agriculture has been an important industry within El Centro since the early 20th century. Due to its strategic location near rail lines and U.S. Highways 80 and 99, more than 35 growers and shippers still operate in El Centro. However, by the early 1980s the two largest employment sectors in El Centro were government and wholesale/retail trade, reflecting El Centro's emerging role as a regional administrative and commercial center.<ref name="el-centro-history" />

===Natural disasters===
El Centro has experienced a range of [[natural disaster]]s, most notably earthquakes, due to its location in the seismically active Imperial Valley near the [[San Andreas Fault]] system. The region is also vulnerable to extreme [[heat wave|heat]], droughts, and occasional flooding.

One of the most significant events in recent history was the [[2010 Baja California earthquake]], also known as the Easter Sunday earthquake. On April 4, 2010, a magnitude 7.2 quake struck near [[Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California|Guadalupe Victoria]], Mexico, just south of the U.S. border. The tremor lasted nearly 90 seconds and was widely felt across Southern California, including El Centro, where it caused structural damage to homes, mobile parks, public buildings, and water infrastructure.<ref name="holtvilletribune.com">https://holtvilletribune.com/2020/04/02/valley-remembers-7-2-earthquake/</ref> Liquefaction-related failures were reported in several areas, including the Calexico Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sunbeam Lake Dam, and levee systems near El Centro.<ref>https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1071/</ref>

The quake also led to the demolition of several iconic structures, including the [[El Centro Public Library]] and the [[Old El Centro Water Tower|old water tower]] on Eighth Street and Vine Avenue, which had become unsafe.<ref name="holtvilletribune.com"/> Emergency shelters were activated, and city officials worked to secure federal assistance, though [[Federal Emergency Management Agency|FEMA]] support was limited. The disaster prompted long-term recovery efforts and the eventual construction of a new library funded by local sales tax measures.

Other notable seismic events include the [[1940 El Centro earthquake]] (magnitude 6.9), which was the first major quake recorded by a strong-motion seismograph near a fault rupture, and the [[1979 Imperial Valley earthquake]], which caused widespread damage and fires. The region continues to be monitored closely by geologists due to its complex fault systems and history of seismic activity.

==Sites of interest==
{{Further|Imperial Valley}}
Stark Field is home of a minor league baseball team [[El Centro Imperials]] of the [[Arizona Summer League]].

==Geography==
[[File:Salton Sea from Space.jpg|thumb|right|150px|The [[Imperial Valley]], as seen from the [[Space Shuttle]]. North is to the upper right. The Salton Sea is at the center. The [[US-Mexican border]] is a diagonal in the lower left.]]
[[File:SaltonSeaArielFromSouth.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Imperial Valley and Salton Sea.]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|11.1|sqmi|km2}}, of which over 99% is land.

El Centro is located in the [[Imperial Valley]] (considered locally as synonymous with [[Imperial County, California|Imperial County]]). The city is {{convert|50|ft|m}} below sea level and the largest city in the United States below sea level. The Imperial Valley is in the [[Colorado Desert]], an extension of the larger [[Sonoran Desert]].

The agriculture industry's demand for water is supplied by canals diverting water from the nearby [[Colorado River]]. The [[Salton Sea]] was created after a 1905 flood from the Colorado River.<ref name="saltonseaflood">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sunsetcities.com/hoover-dam/hoover-dam-history-1.html|title=An Unbelievable Man-Made Disaster That Almost Could Not Be Undone|access-date=August 3, 2009|archive-date=August 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809113723/http://www.sunsetcities.com/hoover-dam/hoover-dam-history-1.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[1940 El Centro earthquake|El Centro earthquake of 1940]] had a moment magnitude of 6.9 and a maximum perceived intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale. It was the first major earthquake to be recorded by a strong-motion seismograph located next to a fault rupture. It was intensely studied by structural engineers and assumed to be typical until the [[1994 Northridge earthquake|Northridge earthquake of 1994]]. In this region, the geology is dominated by the transition of the [[tectonic plate]] boundary from [[rift]] to [[fault (geology)|transverse fault]]. The southernmost strands of the [[San Andreas Fault]] connect the northernmost extensions of the [[East Pacific Rise]]. Consequently, the region is subject to earthquakes, and the crust is being stretched, resulting in a sinking of the terrain over time.

===Climate===
El Centro has a [[hot desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''BWh'')  and is the southernmost desert city below sea level in the continental United States. It features long, extremely hot summers, and mild winters. El Centro has over 350 days of sunshine and under {{convert|3|in|mm}} of rain annually. Winter temperatures are in the mid to high 60s °F (mid to high teens °C) with over-night lows in the low 40s °F (mid +0s °C) . During summer days of June; typically the driest month of the year with no precipitation, the dry, desert heat can push temperatures well above {{convert|100|F|C|1}}, while the nights stay in the high 70s °F (high 20s °C).

The [[North American Monsoon]] typically increases moisture. At times, the climate can resemble that of tropical areas in the Caribbean due to [[Gulf of California moisture surge]]s. Humid air from the gulf surges northward into the Imperial Valley and El Centro area, making the summer heat oppressive at times. This leads to daily thunderstorms that can bring hail, downpours, lightning, and dust storms, more commonly known as [[Haboob]].

During the Eastern Pacific Hurricane season, remnants of hurricanes or tropical storms may track through the desert and can result in heavy thunderstorms. This can lead to significantly higher than normal precipitation, at times bringing heavy rain. A few examples of this are [[Hurricane Hilary|Hurricane Hilary (2023)]] and [[Hurricane Nora (1997)]]

The precipitation in the winter months is predominantly rain showers from the occasional winter storms. At times these storms bring cold temperatures to El Centro and surrounding cities, and mountain snowfall to the nearby Mountains. [[El Niño]] and [[La Niña]] play a large role in how much rain falls in the winter, La Nina typically brings drier and cooler conditions to El Centro and surrounding areas. El Niño tends to being wetter and average temperatures.

Snow is almost totally unknown in the area. However, on December 12, 1934, a very powerful winter storm brought record cold and snowfall to El Centro and surrounding areas of the [[Imperial Valley, California|Imperial Valley]]. Snow began falling at 8:45&nbsp;p.m. December 11 and by 5 a.m. the next day (December 12) {{convert|1|to|4|in|m|sigfig=2|disp=or}} of snow had blanketed the desert floor.

Another instance of freezing precipitation was observed in December 1967 as a mix of sleet hail. On average there are about 15 days that dip  below {{convert|40|°F|°C|1|disp=or}}.

Being below sea level, El Centro has warm afternoons and cold mornings in winter. The coldest daily maximum on record is {{convert|44|F|C|1}} on December 14, 1967, and the mean for the coldest day is at {{convert|56.1|F|C}} for the reference period between 1991 and 2020.<ref name=NOWData/> The warmest low temperature on record is {{convert|98|F|C|1}}, recorded on August 30, 1976.<ref name=NOWData/> The mean for the hottest night annually is at {{convert|87.2|F|C}}.<ref name=NOWData/> The wettest "rain year" was from July 1977 to June 1978 with {{convert|7.19|in|mm|1|disp=or}} and the driest from July 2001 to June 2002 with {{convert|0.02|in|mm|1|disp=or}}

{{Weather box
|collapsed = y
| width = auto
| location = El Centro, California, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1932–present
| single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 90
| Feb record high F = 94
| Mar record high F = 102
| Apr record high F = 109
| May record high F = 116
| Jun record high F = 121
| Jul record high F = 122
| Aug record high F = 122
| Sep record high F = 120
| Oct record high F = 113
| Nov record high F = 98
| Dec record high F = 95
| year record high F = 122
| Jan avg record high F = 80.1
| Feb avg record high F = 83.7
| Mar avg record high F = 91.9
| Apr avg record high F = 98.9
| May avg record high F = 104.7
| Jun avg record high F = 111.8
| Jul avg record high F = 115.0
| Aug avg record high F = 114.2
| Sep avg record high F = 110.6
| Oct avg record high F = 102.6
| Nov avg record high F = 90.8
| Dec avg record high F = 79.6
| year avg record high F = 116.4
| Jan high F = 71.0
| Feb high F = 74.0
| Mar high F = 80.3
| Apr high F = 86.4
| May high F = 93.8
| Jun high F = 102.9
| Jul high F = 106.9
| Aug high F = 106.7
| Sep high F = 102.2
| Oct high F = 91.7
| Nov high F = 79.2
| Dec high F = 69.6
| year high F = 88.7
| Jan mean F = 57.2
| Feb mean F = 60.3
| Mar mean F = 65.9
| Apr mean F = 71.5
| May mean F = 78.6
| Jun mean F = 86.8
| Jul mean F = 92.5
| Aug mean F = 93.0
| Sep mean F = 87.6
| Oct mean F = 76.7
| Nov mean F = 64.9
| Dec mean F = 56.2
| year mean F = 74.3
| Jan low F = 43.4
| Feb low F = 46.7
| Mar low F = 51.6
| Apr low F = 56.7
| May low F = 63.3
| Jun low F = 70.7
| Jul low F = 78.0
| Aug low F = 79.3
| Sep low F = 73.0
| Oct low F = 61.7
| Nov low F = 50.7
| Dec low F = 42.8
| year low F = 59.8
| Jan avg record low F = 34.5
| Feb avg record low F = 37.6
| Mar avg record low F = 41.9
| Apr avg record low F = 47.7
| May avg record low F = 53.7
| Jun avg record low F = 61.4
| Jul avg record low F = 70.2
| Aug avg record low F = 70.1
| Sep avg record low F = 63.4
| Oct avg record low F = 51.1
| Nov avg record low F = 40.2
| Dec avg record low F = 33.6
| year avg record low F = 32.2
| Jan record low F = 14
| Feb record low F = 22
| Mar record low F = 21
| Apr record low F = 33
| May record low F = 36
| Jun record low F = 42
| Jul record low F = 52
| Aug record low F = 54
| Sep record low F = 48
| Oct record low F = 33
| Nov record low F = 24
| Dec record low F = 22
| year record low F = 14
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.39
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.43
| Mar precipitation inch = 0.29
| Apr precipitation inch = 0.07
| May precipitation inch = 0.04
| Jun precipitation inch = 0.00
| Jul precipitation inch = 0.08
| Aug precipitation inch = 0.23
| Sep precipitation inch = 0.25
| Oct precipitation inch = 0.21
| Nov precipitation inch = 0.17
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.37
| year precipitation inch = 2.53
| precipitation colour = green
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 1.7
| Feb precipitation days = 2.5
| Mar precipitation days = 1.7
| Apr precipitation days = 0.6
| May precipitation days = 0.3
| Jun precipitation days = 0.1
| Jul precipitation days = 0.6
| Aug precipitation days = 1.1
| Sep precipitation days = 0.9
| Oct precipitation days = 0.7
| Nov precipitation days = 0.9
| Dec precipitation days = 1.9
| year precipitation days = 13.0
|Jan sun = 245.2 |Jan percentsun = 79
|Feb sun = 246.7 |Feb percentsun = 81
|Mar sun = 314.6 |Mar percentsun = 85
|Apr sun = 346.1 |Apr percentsun = 88
|May sun = 388.1 |May percentsun = 89
|Jun sun = 400.7 |Jun percentsun = 92
|Jul sun = 390.9 |Jul percentsun = 88
|Aug sun = 368.5 |Aug percentsun = 88
|Sep sun = 337.1 |Sep percentsun = 87
|Oct sun = 304.4 |Oct percentsun = 85
|Nov sun = 246.0 |Nov percentsun = 80
|Dec sun = 236.0 |Dec percentsun = 78
|year percentsun = 86
|humidity colour =
|Jan humidity = 45.1
|Feb humidity = 39.6
|Mar humidity = 33.1
|Apr humidity = 25.0
|May humidity = 21.3
|Jun humidity = 16.5
|Jul humidity = 21.1
|Aug humidity = 25.6
|Sep humidity = 25.0
|Oct humidity = 28.8
|Nov humidity = 37.2
|Dec humidity = 45.0
|year humidity =30.3
| source  = <ref>{{Cite web
|url=http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=psr |title=NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data|publisher= NOAA|access-date=March 9, 2016}}</ref>
| date     = March 2016
| source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00042713&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: El Centro 2 SSW, CA
|access-date = March 26, 2023
|archive-date = March 26, 2023
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230326203846/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00042713&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|url-status = live
}}</ref>
| source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=psr
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Phoenix
|access-date = March 26, 2023
|archive-date = July 7, 2022
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220707085315/https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=psr
|url-status = live
}}</ref>
}}

==Economy==
[[File:Mount Signal.jpg|thumb|400x400px|Aerial photo of fields, with Mount Signal in background (2017)]]
As of 2009 the employment of El Centro residents is dominated by the local government, California state government, and federal government. Two nearby prisons ([[California State Prison, Centinela|Centinela]] and [[Calipatria State Prison|Calipatria]]) and a [[U.S. Border Patrol]] station provide employment; ''[[The Economist]]'' states that the prisons and border patrol were "relatively untouched" by the [[Great Recession|late-2000s recession]]. The El Centro area has many farming plots, where carrots, lettuce, and other crops are produced, and therefore the El Centro economy is subject to seasonal variations like other farming areas. Between November and March in winter periods, El Centro-area farmers harvest lettuce for $8–10 per hour. During March the harvest moves to the north and is no longer in El Centro; in previous eras farmers migrated, while in the first decade of the 21st century many collect unemployment benefits during the summer.<ref name="Economist">"[http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14259012 Benefits and the border]." ''[[The Economist]]''. August 20, 2009. Retrieved on September 12, 2009.</ref>

El Centro is surrounded by thousands of acres of farmland that has transformed the desert into one of the most productive farming regions in California with an annual crop production of over $1 billion. Agriculture is still the largest industry in Imperial County and accounts for 48% of all employment.<ref name="elcentrochamber"/>

Being the commercial center of Imperial County, fifty percent of the jobs in the El Centro come from the service and retail sector.<ref name="elcentrochamber"/>

A recent growth in the interest of Imperial County as a filming location, has spurred growth in servicing this industry.<ref name="elcentrochamber"/> Due to its desert environment and proximity to Los Angeles, California, movies are sometimes filmed in the sand dunes outside the agricultural portions of the Imperial County. These have included ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'', ''[[Stargate]]'', ''[[The Scorpion King]]'', ''[[Jarhead (film)|Jarhead]]'', ''[[Into the Wild (film)|Into the Wild]]'', and ''[[American Sniper]]''.

===During the late-2000s recession===
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of April 30, 2009, the El Centro area had a 25.0% unemployment rate, the highest for a Metropolitan Area in the country.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Best and Worst Markets to Find a Job|url=http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-1706-Job-Search-25-Best-and-Worst-Markets-to-Find-a-Job/?sc_extcmp=JS_1706_home1&SiteId=cbmsnhp41706&ArticleID=1706&GT1=35000&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=4a4e6f5f5bdf4da8a20875a56172f434-278850886-R5-4|publisher=CareerBuilder.com|date=October 31, 2008|access-date=November 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708120626/http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-1706-Job-Search-25-Best-and-Worst-Markets-to-Find-a-Job/?sc_extcmp=JS_1706_home1&SiteId=cbmsnhp41706&ArticleID=1706&GT1=35000&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=4a4e6f5f5bdf4da8a20875a56172f434-278850886-R5-4|archive-date=July 8, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> By August of that year, El Centro's unemployment rate was 27.5%, three times the overall United States unemployment rate of 9.7%. ''The Economist'' stated that the city is not the "centre<!--The Economist is British, so please keep this spelling--> of the Great Recession" like the figure would appear to indicate. While El Centro has a seasonal farming economy, there is still a fixed "baseline" unemployment at 12%. Timothy Kelly, the head of the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation, estimated that between 40,000 and 60,000 residents of [[Mexicali]] work in El Centro. ''The Economist'' added that there are likely many El Centro residents who work in Mexicali and collect unemployment benefits in El Centro; Ruben Duran, the city manager of El Centro, said that if the Mexicali jobs were factored into the employment rate, El Centro would have a normal employment rate. The manager of a job search agency called One Stop, said that about 3,000 people per month come into her agency; she says that some make a genuine effort to find jobs, while many do not have motivation to actually find a job, but to instead show proof that they tried to find a job. Kelly stated that unemployment fraud does not account for all of the issues with the El Centro area; he said that many residents have a lack of education and a lack of English language proficiency, so some of them cannot find jobs. ''The Economist'' added that the collapse of the housing market eliminated some construction jobs; the magazine countered that the scenario is true in many places in the United States.<ref name="Economist"/> In December 2008 listed as No. 5 on Forbes.com's list of "The Top 10 Places in America Where Homes are Losing their Value Fastest" with 31.4% of homeowners owing more on their mortgages than their homes are worth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/2008/11/11/homes-equity-lifestyle-forbeslife-cx_mw_1112realestate_slide_7.html?thisSpeed=30000|title=In Depth: Where U.S. Homeowners Are Losing Value Fastest|last=Woolsey|first=Matt|date=December 12, 2008|work=Forbes|access-date=July 13, 2009|archive-date=August 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090811042911/http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/11/homes-equity-lifestyle-forbeslife-cx_mw_1112realestate_slide_7.html?thisSpeed=30000|url-status=live}}</ref> A national report on the effects of the "Great recession" of 2008/09 has found El Centro and the Imperial Valley in the top 5 poorest medium-sized cities in the U.S. in poverty and unemployment rates.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Zumbrun|first=Joshua|date=October 21, 2009|title=America's most impoverished cities|url=http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/americas-most-impoverished-cities.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025190924/http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/americas-most-impoverished-cities.html|archive-date=October 25, 2009|access-date=September 27, 2021|work=Forbes|via=Yahoo! Real Estate}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==

===City parks===
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*City parks include:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cityofelcentro.org/parksandrec/park-list/ |title=Park List - City of El Centro Parks, Facilities & Fields Map |access-date=August 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128002200/https://cityofelcentro.org/parksandrec/park-list/ |archive-date=January 28, 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>
**Bucklin Park
**Swarthout Field
**Stark Field
**Countryside Park
**Legacy Park
**Farmers Park
**Lotus Park
**Plank Park
**First Responders Park
**Sunflower Park
**Carlos Aguilar Park
**Debbie Pitman Park
**Gomez Park
**McGee Park }}

==Culture==
[[File:Calexico&MexicaliFromTheISS.jpg|thumb|El Centro, seen here from the [[International Space Station]], lies just north of Calexico and Mexicali and the Mexico-US border.]]

While the majority of the residents in this community are Hispanic, there is a diverse population with a wide array of interests. In the winter, residents race on nearby sand dunes using four-wheel-drive buggies. During the summer, residents spend time indoors instead of outside. Spanish is a dominant language among residents and over the radio. Many area residents live in both the United States and Mexico and go across the border frequently.<ref name="Economist"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 1618
|1920= 5790
|1930= 8437
|1940= 10174
|1950= 12548
|1960= 16830
|1970= 19973
|1980= 24829
|1990= 32192
|2000= 37294
|2010= 42598
|2020= 44322
|estimate= 
|estref= 
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015|archive-date=April 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>US Census Bureau, 2020 Census, El Centro, California profile</ref>
}}

===2020===
The [[2020 United States census]] reported that El Centro had a population of 44,322. The population density was {{convert|3,742.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of El Centro was 26.3% [[White Americans|White]], 2.0% [[African Americans|African American]], 1.9% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 1.8% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.1% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 38.3% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 29.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 87.0% of the population.<ref name=DP1>{{cite web |title=El Centro city, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0621782 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=June 7, 2025}}</ref>

The census reported that 99.0% of the population lived in households, 0.7% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.3% were institutionalized.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 14,137 households, out of which 42.0% included children under the age of 18, 47.3% were married-couple households, 5.7% were [[cohabitation|cohabiting]] couple households, 31.7% had a female householder with no partner present, and 15.4% had a male householder with no partner present. 20.0% of households were one person, and 9.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.1.<ref name=DP1/> There were 10,786 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (76.3% of all households).<ref>{{cite web |title=El Centro city, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0621782 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=June 7, 2025}}</ref>

The age distribution was 26.7% under the age of 18, 9.8% aged 18 to 24, 25.3% aged 25 to 44, 23.5% aged 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 35.0{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 15,041 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,270.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 14,137 (94.0%) were occupied. Of these, 47.2% were owner-occupied, and 52.8% were occupied by renters.<ref name=DP1/>

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $56,093, and the [[per capita income]] was $23,781. About 17.2% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |title=El Centro city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0621782 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=June 7, 2025}}</ref>

===2010===
The [[2010 United States census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0621782|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715024641/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0621782|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA – El Centro city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that El Centro had a population of 42,598. The population density was {{convert|3,838.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of El Centro was 25,376  [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1,081 [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 554 [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 34,751 persons, 965 [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 34 [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 12,356 from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2,232 from two or more races.

The Census reported that 41,782 people (98.1% of the population) lived in households, 296 (0.7%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 520 (1.2%) were institutionalized.

There were 13,108 households, out of which 6,257 (47.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 6,550 (50.0%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 2,845 (21.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 815 (6.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 804 (6.1%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 58 (0.4%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. Of the households, 2,458 (18.8%) were made up of individuals, and 1,004 (7.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.19. There were 10,210 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (77.9% of all households); the average family size was 3.64.

The population was spread out, with 12,671 people (29.7%) under the age of 18, 4,803 people (11.3%) aged 18 to 24, 10,661 people (25.0%) aged 25 to 44, 9,907 people (23.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 4,556 people (10.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.

There were 14,476 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,304.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 13,108 were occupied, of which 6,488 (49.5%) were owner-occupied, and 6,620 (50.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%. 21,429 people (50.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 20,353 people (47.8%) lived in rental housing units.

In 2009 the Latinos in El Centro mainly consisted of dual citizens and [[Permanent residence (United States)|permanent resident card]] (green card) holders. [[Illegal immigrant]]s tended to go through Imperial County instead of staying in Imperial County.<ref name="Economist"/>

==Education==
Within its boundary, there are three school districts – McCabe Union Elementary School District, [[El Centro Elementary School District|El Centro School District]] and [[Central Union High School District]].<ref name="eccoc">{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcentrochamber.org/the-city-of-el-centro/education/ |title=El Centro Chamber of Commerce – Education |access-date=July 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101103170954/http://elcentrochamber.org/the-city-of-el-centro/education/ |archive-date=November 3, 2010 }}</ref>

El Centro has 11 [[Elementary school#United States|elementary]] schools, four [[Middle school#Canada and the United States|middle/junior high]] schools and three [[High school (North America)|high]] schools:

===Elementary schools===
*De Anza Magnet School<ref name="ecesd">{{Cite web |url=http://elcentro.ca.schoolwebpages.com/education/components/sectionlist/default.php?sectiondetailid=5 |title=El Centro Elementary School District |access-date=July 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328120359/http://elcentro.ca.schoolwebpages.com/education/components/sectionlist/default.php?sectiondetailid=5 |archive-date=March 28, 2009 }}</ref>
*Desert Gardens Elementary School<ref name="ecesd" />
*Harding Elementary School<ref name="ecesd" />
*Hedrick Elementary School<ref name="ecesd" /> (named after Margaret Hedrick, a woman who had been teaching and working in schools for 55 years, 35 of them in the El Centro School District).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://elcentro.ca.schoolwebpages.com/education/school/schoolhistory.php?sectiondetailid=242 |title=Hedrick School – Who was Margaret Hedrick? |access-date=July 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716014352/http://elcentro.ca.schoolwebpages.com/education/school/schoolhistory.php?sectiondetailid=242 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref>
*King Elementary School<ref name="ecesd" />
*Lincoln Elementary School<ref name="ecesd" />
*McCabe Elementary School<ref name="mcusd">{{Cite web|url=http://www.mcusd.net/|title=McCabe Union School District|access-date=July 13, 2009|archive-date=November 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119110629/http://www.mcusd.net/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*McKinley Elementary School<ref name="ecesd" />
*Meadows Elementary School<ref name="eccoc" />
*Sunflower Elementary<ref name="ecesd" />
*Washington Elementary School<ref name="ecesd" />
*St. Mary's Catholic School

===Middle and junior high schools===
*Corfman Middle School (Grades 4–8)<ref name="mcusd" />
*Kennedy Middle School<ref name="ecesd" />
*Wilson Junior High<ref name="ecesd" />
*St. Mary's Catholic School

===High schools===

The [[Central Union High School District]] includes two four-year comprehensive high schools (Central Union and Southwest) and one alternative education school (Desert Oasis). The school district's 3,450 students are supported by more than 350 certified and classified staff. The District is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees.<ref name="elcentrochamber" />
*[[Central Union High School El Centro, CA|Central Union High School]]<ref name="cuhsd">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cuhsd.net/|title=Central Union High School District|access-date=July 13, 2009|archive-date=June 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090613232634/http://www.cuhsd.net/|url-status=live}}</ref> (Central Union was established near the time when the city was established and celebrated its centennial in 2008.)
*Desert Oasis High School<ref name="cuhsd" />
*[[Southwest High School (El Centro, California)|Southwest High School]],<ref name="cuhsd" /> whose performing arts theater is named after local musician Jimmie Cannon, director of CUHS's Great Spartan Band from 1966 to 1996

===Colleges and universities===
Opportunities to attend college are available through [[Imperial Valley College]], a local 2-year college, and an extension of [[San Diego State University]] located in the nearby city of [[Calexico, California|Calexico]]. San Diego State University's Calexico Campus offers a variety of bachelor's and master's degrees.

==Transportation==

===Freeways and highways===
[[File:Interstate_8.jpg|thumb|Dogwood Bridge over Interstate 8 in El Centro]]
There are three major highways that serve El Centro. [[Interstate 8]] connects [[San Diego]] to the west and [[Yuma, Arizona]] to the east. [[California State Route 86|State Route 86]] and [[California State Route 111|State Route 111]] parallel each other as they go north to [[Brawley, California|Brawley]] before running along the west and east shores of the [[Salton Sea]], respectively, on their way to the [[Coachella Valley]]. Going south from El Centro, [[California State Route 86|State Route 86]] terminates at [[California State Route 111|State Route 111]], which runs to [[Calexico, California|Calexico]] and [[Mexicali, Mexico]].

===Public transportation===
[[File:ImperialValleyTransit.jpg|thumb|Imperial Valley Transit bus]]
[[Imperial Valley Transit]] is the primary provider of mass transportation in the Imperial Valley. Formed in 1989 with just 3 buses and serving just 3,000 people per month, the agency now currently serves more than 73,000 riders within the area per month.

Through a partnership between the Imperial County Transportation Commission (ICTC), the Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (YCIPTA), and the [[Quechan]] Indian Tribe, [[Yuma County Area Transit]] Turquoise Route 10 buses stop at El Centro locations and connects the city to [[Winterhaven, California]] and [[Yuma, Arizona]].

[[Greyhound Lines]] provides intercity bus service to El Centro.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedesertreview.com/news/el-centro-bus-transportation-to-receive-139k-in-funding/article_d0fa68fc-2e8c-11ef-a7b3-7bcd64a7e0ed.html|title=El Centro bus transportation to receive $139K in funding|author-first1=Joselito N. |author-last1=Villero|date=19 June 2024|work=The Desert Review|access-date=4 June 2025|url-status=live|archive-date=4 June 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250604072206/https://www.thedesertreview.com/news/el-centro-bus-transportation-to-receive-139k-in-funding/article_d0fa68fc-2e8c-11ef-a7b3-7bcd64a7e0ed.html}}</ref>

===Airports===
*[[Imperial County Airport]] is located in nearby [[Imperial, California|Imperial]]. Service is subsidized by the [[Essential Air Service]] program.<ref name="imperialcountyairport">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gcr1.com/5010web/airport.cfm?Site=IPL|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070130000555/http://www.gcr1.com/5010web/airport.cfm?Site=IPL|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 30, 2007|title=ipl|access-date=July 31, 2009}}</ref> The nearest large international airports are [[San Diego International Airport]] and [[Mexicali International Airport]].
*[[Naval Air Facility El Centro]] is a [[U.S. Navy]] airfield
*[[Douthitt Strip Airport]] is a former military airfield, now a private use airport.

==Politics==
El Centro operates under a [[Council–manager government|council–manager]] form of government. The members of the City Council also sit as the Community Development Commission (Commission) and Redevelopment Agency (Agency) governing boards. The City Manager is empowered as the executive director of the Commission and Agency.<ref name="elcentrochamber">{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcentrochamber.org/the-city-of-el-centro/community/ |title=El Centro Chamber of Commerce |access-date=July 31, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101103174411/http://elcentrochamber.org/the-city-of-el-centro/community/ |archive-date=November 3, 2010 }}</ref>

In the [[California State Legislature|state legislature]], El Centro is in {{Representative|casd|18|fmt=sdistrict}},<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators |title=Senators |access-date=April 8, 2013 |publisher=State of California |archive-date=January 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106225634/https://www.senate.ca.gov/senators |url-status=live }}</ref> and {{Representative|caad|36|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers |title=Members Assembly |access-date=April 8, 2013 |publisher=State of California |archive-date=January 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106225632/https://www.assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers |url-status=live }}</ref>

Federally, El Centro is in {{Representative|cacd|25|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|25|access-date=April 8, 2013}}</ref>

==Government==
The City of El Centro Public Works operates water, sewer, and trash services for the city.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cityofelcentro.org/publicworks/divisions-programs/ | title=Divisions & Programs &#124; Public Works Department | access-date=September 18, 2022 | archive-date=September 20, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920172703/https://cityofelcentro.org/publicworks/divisions-programs/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Notable people==
Notable people from El Centro or who lived in El Centro for an extended period of time.
*[[Walter Beasley]] (born 1961), [[jazz]] musician and professor
*[[Justin Burquist]], filmmaker and music video director
*[[Glenn Cadrez]] (born 1970), American [[linebacker|football linebacker]] for the [[Denver Broncos]]
*[[Julian Segura Camacho]] (born 1969), Mexican American literature author
*[[Dino Cazares]] (born 1966) heavy metal musician, songwriter, and producer
*[[Cher]] (born 1946), [[pop music|pop]] musician, actress
*[[Roscoe Cook]] (1939–2011), holder of three world records in track
*[[Uttam Dhillon]], former acting [[Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration|Administrator]] of the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]]
*[[Doug Harvey (umpire)|Doug Harvey]] (1930–2018), [[Major League Baseball]] Hall of Fame umpire
*[[Ken Howard]] (1944–2016), actor
*[[Donal Logue]] (born 1966), actor
*[[Emmy Lou Packard]] (1914–1998), fine artist, printmaker
*[[David Varela]] (born 1982), artist and philanthropist

==References==
{{reflist|35em}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|El Centro|voy=El Centro}}
*{{Official website}}
*[http://www.elcentrochamber.com/ El Centro Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau]
*[http://www.vibrationdata.com/elcentro.htm El Centro Earthquake 1940]

{{Navboxes
| title = Articles relating to El Centro, California
| list  =
{{El Centro}}
{{Border Region (California)}}
{{Imperial County, California}}
{{California county seats}}
{{Southern California megaregion}}
}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:El Centro, California| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Imperial County, California]]
[[Category:El Centro metropolitan area|*]]
[[Category:County seats in California]]
[[Category:Communities in the Lower Colorado River Valley]]
[[Category:Imperial Valley]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Colorado Desert]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1908]]
[[Category:1908 establishments in California]]