View source for Imperial County, California

{{short description|County in California, United States}}
{{Redirect|Imperial County}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Imperial County
| native_name        = 
| other_name         = 
| settlement_type    = [[List of counties in California|County]]
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  | image1             = Mortmar, North Shore, California and Salton Sea, Santa Rosa Mountains (cropped).jpg
  | caption1           = [[Salton Sea]]
  | image2             = Salton Sea Calipatria Fields Aerial (cropped).jpg
  | caption2           = [[Calipatria, California|Calipatria]]
  | image3             = Hotel de Anza, Calexico, CA (cropped).jpg
  | caption3           = [[Calexico]]
  | image4             = U.S. Post Office Building, El Centro, California (cropped).jpg 
  | caption4           = [[El Centro, California|El Centro]]
  | image5             = Imperial Sand Dunes2C Southeastern California LCCN2013630449.jpg
  | caption5           = [[Algodones Dunes]]
  | image6             = Santa Rosa Wilderness (25569789454).jpg
  | caption6           = [[Santa Rosa Mountains (California)|Santa Rosa Mountains]]
  }}
| image_flag         = Flag of Imperial County, California.svg
| flag_size          = 
| image_seal         = Seal of Imperial County, California.png
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| map_caption        = Interactive map of Imperial County
| image_map1         = Map of California highlighting Imperial County.svg
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| map_caption1       = Location in the state of [[California]]
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[California]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of regions of California|Region]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Deserts of California|Californian Deserts]]
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = August 7, 1907
| named_for          = [[Imperial Valley]], which was named after the [[Imperial Land Company]]
| seat_type          = [[County seat]]
| seat               = [[El Centro, California|El Centro]]
| seat1_type         = Largest community
| seat1              = El Centro (population)<br/>[[Salton City, California|Salton City]] (area)
| leader_title       = 
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| unit_pref          = US
| area_total_sq_mi   = 4482
| area_land_sq_mi    = 4177
| area_water_sq_mi   = 305
| elevation_min_ft   = -232
<!-- Government ----------->| government_type    = [[Council–manager government|Council–CEO]]
| governing_body     = [[Board of Supervisors]]
| leader_title1      = Chair
| leader_name1       = John Hawk
| leader_title2      = Vice Chair
| leader_name2       = Martha Cardenas-Singh
| leader_title3      = Board of Supervisors<ref>{{cite web | url=https://board.imperialcounty.org/?_ga=2.125197642.1950329547.1659311743-399629282.1659311743&_gl=1%2A1gqo7wn%2A_ga%2AMzk5NjI5MjgyLjE2NTkzMTE3NDM.%2A_ga_BEMFXKGC2M%2AMTY1OTMxMTc0My4xLjAuMTY1OTMxMTc0My4w | title=Home }}</ref>
| leader_name3       = {{Collapsible list
| title = Supervisors
| frame_style = border:none; padding:0;
| list_style  = text-align:left;
| 1  = Jesus Eduardo Escobar 
| 2  = Martha Cardenas-Singh
| 3  = Margarita Peggy Price 
| 4  = Ryan E. Kelley 
| 5  = John Hawk 
}}
| leader_title4      = County executive officer
| leader_name4       = Dr. Kathleen Lang
<!-- Population ----------->| elevation_max_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=1536|title=Blue Angels Peak|publisher=Peakbagger.com|access-date=February 23, 2015}}</ref>
| elevation_min_footnotes = <ref>Southern shore of the Salton Sea</ref>
| population_total   = 179702
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|April 1, 2020]]
| pop_est_as_of      = 2025
| population_est     = 186499 {{gain}}
| population_footnotes = <ref name="QF"/>
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| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="USCensusEst2024"/>
| demographics_type2 = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web|title=Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Imperial County, CA|url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GDPALL06025|work=[[Federal Reserve Economic Data]] |publisher=[[Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis]]}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = Total
| demographics2_info1 = $11.064 billion (2022)
| postal_code_type   = <!--[[ZIP code]]-->
| postal_code        = 
| area_code          = [[Area codes 442 and 760|442/760]]
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
| blank_info_sec1    = 06-025
| blank1_name_sec1   = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info_sec1   = {{GNIS 4|277277}}
| website            = {{URL|https://imperialcounty.org/}}
| footnotes          = 
| elevation_max_ft   = 4552
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone]]
| utc_offset         = −8
| timezone_DST       = [[Pacific Daylight Time]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −7
| blank_name_sec2    = Congressional district
| blank_info_sec2    = [[California's 25th congressional district|25th]]
}}

'''Imperial County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located on the southeast border of the [[U.S. state]] of [[California]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 179,702, ranking as the least populous county in [[Southern California]].<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06025.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805085411/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06025.html|archive-date=August 5, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[county seat]] and largest city is [[El Centro, California|El Centro]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> Imperial is the most recent California county to be established, as it was created in 1907 out of the eastern half of [[San Diego County]].

Imperial County is located in the far southeast of California, in the [[Imperial Valley]]. It borders San Diego County to the west, [[Riverside County, California|Riverside County]] to the north, the U.S. state of [[Arizona]] to the east and the [[Mexico|Mexican]] state of [[Baja California]] to the south. It includes the El Centro [[metropolitan statistical area]] and is part of the [[Southern California]] [[San Diego–Imperial (California)|border region]], the smallest but most economically diverse region in the state.<ref>[http://search.ca.gov/search?q=cache:AtbaXur_WaEJ:www.labor.ca.gov/panel/pdf/CESP_Regions_100606.pdf&proxystylesheet=xfix&output=xml_no_dtd&client=xfix] {{dead link|date=November 2017}}</ref>

Although this region is a desert, with high temperatures and low average rainfall of {{convert|3|in|mm|abbr=out|sigfig=|sp=us}} per year,<ref name = "iid">{{cite web|url=https://www.iid.com/water/water-supply|access-date=April 20, 2023|title = Water Supply|publisher = Imperial Irrigation District}}</ref> 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]].<ref name= "water trans">{{cite web|url=https://www.iid.com/water/water-transportation-system|title=Water Transportation System|publisher=Imperial Irrigation District}}</ref>

The [[Imperial Valley]] straddles the border between the [[United States]] and [[Mexico]]. Imperial County is strongly influenced by Mexican culture. Approximately 85% of the county's population is Hispanic, with the vast majority being of Mexican origin. It has the highest proportion of Hispanics of any county in California. The remainder of the population is predominantly non-Hispanic white, in addition to smaller African American, Native American, and Asian minorities.

==History==
{{More citations needed|date=June 2009}}
[[File:Portrait of Juan Bautista de Anza (Painted by Fray Orci; 1774, Mexico City).jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Juan Bautista de Anza]]'s noted expedition passed through the area in 1775.]]

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.

[[Spanish people|Spanish]] explorer [[Melchor Díaz]] was one of the first [[Europe]]ans to visit the area of the 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|website=Solideas.com|access-date=August 3, 2009}}</ref> The indigenous peoples in the county were also engaged in an armed regional conflict, with the Quechan leading a coalition with the Kumeyaay against the [[Maricopa people|Maricopa]]-led coalition with the Cahuilla, [[Cocopah]], and other tribes in modern-day Arizona. Constant warfare would deny the Spanish explorers any overland access to [[Alta California]], despite Spanish attempts to mediate the conflict.<ref>Naomi Sussman. "Indigenous Diplomacy and Spanish Mediation in the Lower Colorado-Gila River Region, 1771-1783." ''Ethnohistory'', vol. 66, no. 2, Apr. 2019, pp. 329–52. ''EBSCOhost'', {{doi|10.1215/00141801-7298819}}.</ref>

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 [[Glanton Gang]] sabotaged Quechan ferry operators and mugged a local Quechan chief. This would lead towards the start of the [[Yuma War]], with a Quechan-led coalition of tribes against the US army and their indigenous allies in [[Baja California]] and [[Sonora]]. In the First Yuma War, the Quechan laid siege on [[Fort Yuma]] in 1851, and forced the American garrison there to abandon the fort. The Americans returned to the area in 1852 and subdued the Quechan by destroying their villages and farmland, and killed any warriors that resisted, leading to Quechan surrender to the US.<ref>Thompson, D. Jerry (2006). ''Civil war to the bloody end: The life and times of Major General Samuel P. Heintzelman''. San Antonio, Texas: Texas A&M University Press. {{ISBN|1-58544-535-5}}.</ref> The Second Yuma War would later see neighboring tribes erode much of the military advantages that the Quechan had left.

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.<ref name="CRL2015B">{{cite web|url=http://www.californiaresortlife.com/imperialvalley/index.html|title=Tour Imperial Valley|work=CaliforniaResortLife|access-date=December 15, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222164340/http://www.californiaresortlife.com/imperialvalley/index.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Paoletta |first1=Kyle |title=A Dead Sea |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/environment/traci-brynne-voyles-salton-sea/ |access-date=23 September 2025 |magazine=[[The Nation]] |date=10 August 2022}}</ref>

Imperial County was formed in 1907 from the eastern portion of [[San Diego County, California|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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parvini |first=Sarah |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-imperial-county-unemployment-20190205-htmlstory.html|title=This corner of California is suffering economic misery despite boom all around it|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=February 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207011608/https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-imperial-county-unemployment-20190205-htmlstory.html |archive-date=February 7, 2019}}</ref> 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 [[Great Depression]] and the [[Dust Bowl]], the county attracted migrating "[[Okies]]" from drought-ridden farms on the plains by the need of migrant labor. More prosperous job-seekers also arrived from across the U.S. in the 1930s and 1940s. American entry into [[World War II]] stimulated the growth of jobs and need to expanded agriculture, and the [[All American Canal]] was completed from its source, the [[Colorado River]], to Imperial Valley from 1948 to 1951. By the 1950 census, more than 50,000 residents lived in Imperial County alone, about 40 times the population of 1910. Most of the population was year-round, but would increase every winter by migrant laborers from Mexico. Until the 1960s, the farms in Imperial County provided substantial economic returns to the company and the valley.

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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US,CA,imperialcountycalifornia/PST045221|access-date=February 18, 2022}}</ref>

==Sites of interest==
===Fort Yuma===
[[Fort Yuma]] is located on the banks of the [[Colorado River]] in [[Winterhaven, California]]. First established after the end of the [[Mexican–American War]] in 1848, it was originally located in the bottoms near the Colorado River, less than {{convert|1|mi|km|adj=off}} below the mouth of the [[Gila River]]. It was to defend the newly settled community of [[Yuma, Arizona]], on the other side of the Colorado River and the nearby [[Mexico|Mexican border]]. In March 1851 the post was moved to a small elevation on the Colorado's west bank, opposite the present city of Yuma, Arizona, on the site of the former [[Mission Puerto de Purísima Concepción]]. This site had been occupied by Camp Calhoun, named for [[John C. Calhoun]], established in 1849. Fort Yuma was established to protect the southern emigrant travel route to California and to attempt control of the [[Yuma Indians]] in the surrounding {{convert|100|mi|km|adj=on}} area.<ref name="FtYuma">{{cite web|url=http://www.militarymuseum.org/FtYuma.html|title=Fort Yuma|website=Militarymuseum.org|access-date=August 5, 2009}}</ref>

===Blue Angels===
[[Image:Blueangelsformationpd.jpg|right|thumb|Blue Angels]]
[[NAF El Centro]] is the winter home of the [[Blue Angels|U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, The Blue Angels]]. NAF El Centro historically kicks off the Blue Angels' season with their first air show, traditionally held in March.<ref name="blueangels">{{cite web|url=http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/index.htm|title=Blue Angels Official Website|website=Blueangels.navy.mil|access-date=August 5, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430203245/http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/index.htm|archive-date=April 30, 2009}}</ref>

===Imperial Valley Expo & Fairgrounds===
[[File:California Mid Winter Fair.jpg|thumb|left|Mid-Winter Fair in Imperial, CA]]
The city of [[Imperial, California|Imperial]] is home to the California Mid-Winter Fair and Fiesta which is the local county fair, held in late February to early March.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thedesertreview.com/announcements/california-mid-winter-fair-and-fiesta-opens-friday/article_3ac7d0c8-391d-11e9-bcbc-2bfef475e275.html |title=2019 California Mid-Winter Fair and Fiesta opens Friday|date=February 25, 2019 |website=The Desert Review|language=en|access-date=April 1, 2019}}</ref> It is also home to the Imperial Valley Speedway, a race track of {{convert|3/8|mi|m|sigfig=1}}.<ref name="ivexpo">{{cite web |url=http://www.ivexpo.com/geninfo.htm|title=Imperial Valley Expo|website=Ivexpo.com|access-date=August 5, 2009|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614120233/http://www.ivexpo.com/geninfo.htm|archive-date=June 14, 2009}}</ref>

===Algodones Sand Dunes===
[[File:Imperial sand dunes.jpg|thumb|right|The Algodones Dunes]] The name [[Algodones Dunes]] refers to the entire geographic feature, while the administrative designation for that portion managed by the [[Bureau of Land Management]] is the "Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area" (sometimes called the "Glamis Dunes"). The Algodones Sand Dunes are the largest mass of sand dunes in California. This dune system extends for more than {{convert|40|mi|km|abbr=out|sigfig=|sp=us}} along the eastern edge of the [[Imperial Valley]] agricultural region in a band averaging {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} in width. A major east–west route of the Union Pacific railroad skirts the eastern edge. The dune system is divided into three areas. The northernmost area is known as Mammoth Wash. South of Mammoth Wash is the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness established by the 1994 California Desert Protection Act. This area is closed to motorized use and access is by hiking and horseback. The largest and most heavily used area begins at [[California State Route 78|Highway 78]] and continues south just past [[Interstate 8]]. The expansive dune formations offer picturesque scenery, a chance to view rare plants and animals, and a playground for [[All terrain vehicle|ATV]] and off-roading enthusiasts. The dunes are also popular in film making and have been the site for movies such as ''[[Return of the Jedi]]''.<ref name="dunes">{{cite web |url=http://www.desertusa.com/sandhills/sandhills.html |title=Algodones Sand Dunes|access-date=August 5, 2009}}</ref>

===Colorado River===
The [[Colorado River]] streams through the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately {{convert|1,450|mi|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.<ref>{{cite journal|last1= Rubio-Velázquez|first1= Javier|last2= Loaiciga|first2= Hugo A.|last3= Lopez-Carr|first3= David|date= March 2, 2023|title= Human-Induced Resource Scarcity in the Colorado River Basin and Its Implications for Water Supply and the Environment in the Mexicali Valley Transboundary Aquifer|url= https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24694452.2022.2162477|journal= Annals of the American Association of Geographers|volume= 113|issue= 5|pages= 1172–1189|doi= 10.1080/24694452.2022.2162477|bibcode= 2023AAAG..113.1172R|s2cid= 257326957|access-date=April 20, 2023}}</ref> The river is a popular destination for water sports, including fishing, boating, water skiing, and jet skiing.<ref name="river">{{cite web|url=http://www.visityuma.com/things.html |title=Things to Do in Yuma |access-date=August 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713232428/http://www.visityuma.com/things.html |archive-date=July 13, 2009 }}</ref>

===Salvation Mountain===

[[Salvation Mountain]] is an artificial mountain north of [[Calipatria, California]], near [[Slab City]]. It is made from adobe, straw, and thousands of gallons of paint. It was created by [[Leonard Knight]] to convey the message that "God Loves Everyone". Knight refused substantial donations of money and labor from supporters who wished to modify his message of universal love to favor or disfavor particular groups.

===Anza-Borrego Desert State Park===
[[File:Bighorns.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Bighorn sheep at Palm Canyon in Anza-Borrego State Park]]

[[Anza-Borrego Desert State Park]], portions of which are located in Imperial County, is the largest state park in [[California]]. {{convert|500|mi|km|sigfig=1}} of dirt roads, twelve wilderness areas, and many more miles of hiking trails provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wonders of the [[Colorado Desert]]. The park's name is a combination of the last name of Spanish explorer [[Juan Bautista de Anza]], and the Spanish word for [[bighorn sheep]], '' borrego''. The park features many sweeping vistas, washes ([[wadis]]), rocky outcrops, boulder-strewn hillsides, in addition to the vast expanses of sandy desert; in springtime (especially after periods of rain), these areas appear to change shape, as they come alive with blooming [[wildflowers]], flowering and fruiting [[cactus|cacti]] and numerous other species of native flora. Fauna that visitors may also have the chance to see include the [[bobcat]], [[coyote]], [[golden eagle]], [[kit fox]], [[mule deer]], [[mountain lion]], [[red-tailed hawk]]  and [[roadrunner]], as well as the iconic desert subspecies of bighorn sheep (formerly more common, across the southwest U.S. and northern Mexico). Many varied reptile species call the area home, such as the [[Western banded gecko|banded gecko]], [[chuckwalla]], [[desert iguana]], [[desert tortoise]], [[Crotalus cerastes|desert sidewinder]], [[gopher snake]], [[kingsnake]], [[red diamond rattlesnake]] and the [[rosy boa]].<ref name="CRL2015A">{{cite web|title=Tour Imperial Valley |work=CaliforniaResortLife |url=http://www.californiaresortlife.com/imperialvalley/anzaborrego_desert.htm|access-date=December 15, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151222155408/http://www.californiaresortlife.com/imperialvalley/anzaborrego_desert.htm |archive-date=December 22, 2015|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

===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]].<ref name="fossilcanyon">{{cite web |url=http://www.desertusa.com/magoct97/oct_painted.html |title=Fossil Canyon and Painted Gorge|access-date=August 5, 2009}}</ref>

The ''Painted Gorge'', located on the eastern side of the Coyote Mountains, consists of [[sedimentary]], [[metamorphic rocks|metamorphic]] and [[igneous rock]]; [[Heat]] and movement over time has created fantastic shapes and colors. Dark ochre, iron-reds, royal purples, and mauves (mixed with dark browns/black) create a palette of color as the sun illuminates and plays shadows upon this geologic wonder.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 13, 2019 |url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2019/feb/13/roam-painted-gorge-under-sea-desert-region |publisher=San Diego Reader |title=The Painted Gorge: From undersea to desert region |accessdate=November 11, 2022}}</ref>

===Imperial NWR===
[[File:Mesquite point.jpg|thumb|right|Mesquite Point at Imperial NWR]]
The [[Imperial National Wildlife Refuge]] protects wildlife habitat along {{convert|30|mi|km|sigfig=1}} 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.<ref name="ImperialNWR">{{cite web|url=http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/imperial.html |title=Imperial NWR |access-date=August 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612053749/http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/Arizona/imperial.html |archive-date=June 12, 2009 }}</ref>

===Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR===
The [[Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge]] is located {{convert|40|mi|km|sigfig=|abbr=}} north of the [[Mexico|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 {{convert|227|ft|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 {{convert|100|F|C|abbr=on|sigfig=|sp=us}} with temperatures of {{convert|116-120|F|C|abbr=on|sigfig=|sp=us}} recorded yearly.<ref name="sonnybono">{{cite web|url=http://www.fws.gov/saltonsea/|title=Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge|access-date=August 4, 2009}}</ref>

=== 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 {{convert|100|ft|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==
[[File:20220224075821 IMG 3800 Mount Signal.jpg|thumb|Fields with Mount Signal in Background]]
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|4482|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|4177|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|305|sqmi}} (6.8%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 26, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> Much of Imperial County is below sea level. Imperial County is roughly twice the size in total square miles as the State of Delaware.

Imperial county is bordered on the north by [[Riverside County, California|Riverside County]]; on the east by [[Yuma County, Arizona|Yuma County]], [[Arizona]]; on the south by [[Mexico]]; and on the west by [[San Diego County, California|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 {{convert|235|ft|m}} below sea level, and the [[Algodones Dunes]], one of the largest dune fields in America.<ref name="citybloc">{{cite web|url=http://citybloc.com/California/Imperial%20County|title=Imperial County|access-date=August 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502185618/http://citybloc.com/California/Imperial%20County|archive-date=May 2, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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 <ref name="citybloc" /> for approximately {{convert|60|mi|km}}.

In this region, the [[geology]] is dominated by the transition of the [[tectonic plate]] boundary from [[rift]] to [[fault (geology)|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. Related to the active geology are some interesting hydrothermal features. The area is also volcanic with multiple volcanic eruptions in the past few thousand years the most recent was 1,800 years ago.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Salton Buttes |url=https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/salton-buttes}}</ref>

===National protected areas===
* [[Cibola National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)
* [[Imperial National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)
* [[Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 12591
|1920= 43453
|1930= 60903
|1940= 55740
|1950= 61175
|1960= 71105
|1970= 74492
|1980= 93110
|1990= 109303
|2000= 142361
|2010= 174528
|2020= 179702
|estyear=2024
|estimate=181724
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 9, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 26, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 26, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ca190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=September 26, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=September 26, 2015}}</ref> 2010–2015<ref name="QF"/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Imperial County, California – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 1980<ref>{{Cite web |title=California: 1980, General Social and Economic Characteristics, Part 1 - Table 59: Persons by Race, Hispanic Origin, and Sex|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caCs1-01.pdf|access-date=}}</ref>
!Pop 1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=California: 1990, Part 1 - Table 5: Race and Hispanic Origin|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-6-1.pdf |access-date=July 14, 2024}}</ref>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Imperial County, California|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US06025&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Imperial County, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US06025&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Imperial County, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US06025&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 1980
!% 1990
!% 2000
!% 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|35,411
|31,742
|28,768
|23,927
|style='background: #ffffe6; |16,813
|38.44%
|29.04%
|20.21%
|13.71%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |9.36%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|2,188
|2,272
|5,148
|5,114
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,846
|2.38%
|2.08%
|3.62%
|2.93%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.14%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|1,375
|1,563
|1,736
|1,642
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,584
|1.49%
|1.43%
|1.22%
|0.94%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.88%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|1,752
|1,632
|2,446
|2,201
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,244
|1.90%
|1.49%
|1.72%
|1.26%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.25%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref>
|x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref>
|75
|87
|style='background: #ffffe6; |82
|0.05%
|0.05%
|0.05%
|0.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.05%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|0
|159
|97
|189
|style='background: #ffffe6; |519
|0.00%
|0.15%
|0.07%
|0.11%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.29%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref>
|x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref>
|1,274
|1,097
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,587
|x
|x
|0.89%
|0.63%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.88%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|51,384
|71,935
|102,817
|140,271
|style='background: #ffffe6; |153,027
|55.79%
|65.81%
|72.22%
|80.37%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |85.16%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''92,110'''
|'''109,303'''
|'''142,361'''
|'''174,528'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''179,702 '''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010===
The [[2010 United States census]] reported that Imperial County had a population of 174,528. The racial makeup of Imperial County was 102,553 (58.8%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5,773 (3.3%) [[African American (U.S. census)|African American]], 3,059 (1.8%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2,843 (1.6%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 165 (0.1%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 52,413 (30.0%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 7,722 (4.4%) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 140,271 persons (80.4%).<ref>{{USCensus2010CA}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
!colspan="10"|Population reported at [[2010 United States census]]
|-
|{{center|'''The County'''}} ||{{center|'''Total<br/>Population'''}}||{{center|'''[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]'''}} ||{{center|'''[[African American (U.S. census)|African<br/>American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native<br/>American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific<br/>Islander]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Race (United States Census)|other<br/>races]]'''}} || {{center|'''two or<br/>more races'''}} ||{{center|'''[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]]<br/>or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]<br/>(of any race)'''}}
|-
|''' Imperial County'''
|align="right"|174,528||align="right"|102,553||align="right"|5,773||align="right"|3,059||align="right"|2,843||align="right"|165||align="right"|52,413||align="right"|7,722||align="right"|140,271
|-
|{{center|'''[[Incorporated city|Incorporated<br/>city]]'''}} ||{{center|'''Total<br/>Population'''}}||{{center|'''[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]'''}} ||{{center|'''[[African American (U.S. census)|African<br/>American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native<br/>American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific<br/>Islander]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Race (United States Census)|other<br/>races]]'''}} || {{center|'''two or<br/>more races'''}} ||{{center|'''[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]]<br/>or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]<br/>(of any race)'''}}
|-
|'''[[Brawley, California|Brawley]]'''
|align="right"|24,953||align="right"|13,570||align="right"|510||align="right"|241||align="right"|349||align="right"|32||align="right"|9,258||align="right"|993||align="right"|20,344
|-
|'''[[Calexico, California|Calexico]]'''
|align="right"|38,572||align="right"|23,150||align="right"|134||align="right"|204||align="right"|504||align="right"|21||align="right"|12,920||align="right"|1,639||align="right"|37,354
|-
|'''[[Calipatria, California|Calipatria]]'''
|align="right"|7,705||align="right"|3,212||align="right"|1,612||align="right"|79||align="right"|95||align="right"|25||align="right"|2,455||align="right"|227||align="right"|4,940
|-
|'''[[El Centro, California|El Centro]]'''
|align="right"|42,598||align="right"|25,376||align="right"|1,081||align="right"|554||align="right"|965||align="right"|34||align="right"|12,356||align="right"|2,232||align="right"|34,751
|-
|'''[[Holtville, California|Holtville]]'''
|align="right"|5,939||align="right"|3,655||align="right"|37||align="right"|41||align="right"|50||align="right"|4||align="right"|1,977||align="right"|175||align="right"|4,858
|-
|'''[[Imperial, California|Imperial]]'''
|align="right"|14,758||align="right"|9,298||align="right"|331||align="right"|154||align="right"|370||align="right"|13||align="right"|3,783||align="right"|809||align="right"|11,046
|-
|'''[[Westmorland, California|Westmorland]]'''
|align="right"|2,225||align="right"|1,038||align="right"|21||align="right"|38||align="right"|11||align="right"|0||align="right"|1,042||align="right"|75||align="right"|1,938
|-
|{{center|'''[[Census-designated place|Census-designated<br/>place]]'''}} ||{{center|'''Total<br/>Population'''}}||{{center|'''[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]'''}} ||{{center|'''[[African American (U.S. census)|African<br/>American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native<br/>American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific<br/>Islander]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Race (United States Census)|other<br/>races]]'''}} || {{center|'''two or<br/>more races'''}} ||{{center|'''[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]]<br/>or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]<br/>(of any race)'''}}
|-
|'''[[Bombay Beach, California|Bombay Beach]]'''
|align="right"|295||align="right"|223||align="right"|37||align="right"|8||align="right"|1||align="right"|0||align="right"|22||align="right"|4||align="right"|59
|-
|'''[[Desert Shores, California|Desert Shores]]'''
|align="right"|1,104||align="right"|709||align="right"|8||align="right"|26||align="right"|4||align="right"|1||align="right"|307||align="right"|49||align="right"|848
|-
|'''[[Heber, California|Heber]]'''
|align="right"|4,275||align="right"|2,174||align="right"|5||align="right"|33||align="right"|15||align="right"|0||align="right"|1,758||align="right"|290||align="right"|4,197
|-
|'''[[Niland, California|Niland]]'''
|align="right"|1,006||align="right"|539||align="right"|36||align="right"|20||align="right"|36||align="right"|0||align="right"|315||align="right"|60||align="right"|618
|-
|'''[[Ocotillo, California|Ocotillo]]'''
|align="right"|266||align="right"|242||align="right"|1||align="right"|1||align="right"|2||align="right"|0||align="right"|17||align="right"|3||align="right"|61
|-
|'''[[Palo Verde, California|Palo Verde]]'''
|align="right"|171||align="right"|124||align="right"|2||align="right"|5||align="right"|1||align="right"|0||align="right"|26||align="right"|13||align="right"|33
|-
|'''[[Salton City, California|Salton City]]'''
|align="right"|3,763||align="right"|2,260||align="right"|80||align="right"|61||align="right"|61||align="right"|5||align="right"|1,159||align="right"|137||align="right"|2,368
|-
|'''[[Salton Sea Beach, California|Salton Sea Beach]]'''
|align="right"|422||align="right"|309||align="right"|6||align="right"|4||align="right"|2||align="right"|2||align="right"|82||align="right"|17||align="right"|229
|-
|'''[[Seeley, California|Seeley]]'''
|align="right"|1,739||align="right"|746||align="right"|19||align="right"|7||align="right"|21||align="right"|2||align="right"|793||align="right"|151||align="right"|1,489
|-
|'''[[Winterhaven, California|Winterhaven]]'''
|align="right"|394||align="right"|245||align="right"|4||align="right"|37||align="right"|1||align="right"|0||align="right"|84||align="right"|23||align="right"|261
|-
|{{center|'''Other<br/>[[unincorporated area]]s'''}} ||{{center|'''Total<br/>Population'''}}||{{center|'''[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]'''}} ||{{center|'''[[African American (U.S. census)|African<br/>American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native<br/>American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific<br/>Islander]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Race (United States Census)|other<br/>races]]'''}} || {{center|'''two or<br/>more races'''}} ||{{center|'''[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]]<br/>or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]<br/>(of any race)'''}}
|-
|All others not CDPs (combined)
|align="right"|24,343||align="right"|15,683||align="right"|1,849||align="right"|1,546||align="right"|355||align="right"|26||align="right"|4,059||align="right"|825||align="right"|14,877
|}

===2000===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 142,361 people, 39,384 households, and 31,467 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|34|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 43,891 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 49.4% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 4.0% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.9% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 2.0% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 39.1% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.7% from two or more races. 72.2% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 65.7% spoke [[Spanish language|Spanish]] at home, while 32.3% spoke only [[English language|English]].

There were 39,384 households, out of which 46.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were [[Marriage|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 [[per capita income]] for the county was $13,239. About 19.4% of families and 22.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Imperial County Board of Supervisors |url=https://board.imperialcounty.org/ |access-date=2025-06-01}}</ref> Supervisors serve four-year terms. Other elected county officials include the Assessor,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Imperial County Assessor's Office |url=https://assessor.imperialcounty.org/?_gl=1%2Ad4t78w%2A_ga%2AODAyOTg0NjI0LjE3NDg4Mjc1NzQ.%2A_ga_BEMFXKGC2M%2AczE3NDg4MzQ2MzAkbzIkZzEkdDE3NDg4MzcyODEkajYwJGwwJGgw |access-date=2025-06-01}}</ref> Auditor-Controller,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Auditor-Controller Department |url=https://auditor.imperialcounty.org/ |access-date=2025-06-01}}</ref> District Attorney,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Imperial County District Attorney's Office |url=https://da.imperialcounty.org/ |access-date=2025-06-01}}</ref> County Clerk-Recorder,<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Clerk - Recorder |url=https://recorder.imperialcounty.org/ |access-date=2025-06-01}}</ref> Public Administrator,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aaa24.org|title=Public AdministratorArea Agency on Aging|website=Public Administrator Area Agency on Aging|access-date=November 7, 2017|archive-date=October 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022132235/http://www.aaa24.org/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sheriff-Coroner,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icso.org|title=Imperial County Sheriffs's Office|website=Icso.org|access-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref> and Treasurer-Tax Collector.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Treasurer - Tax Collector Department |url=https://treasurer-taxcollector.imperialcounty.org/?_gl=1%2A16nnr25%2A_ga%2AODAyOTg0NjI0LjE3NDg4Mjc1NzQ.%2A_ga_BEMFXKGC2M%2AczE3NDg4MzQ2MzAkbzIkZzEkdDE3NDg4MzcyODEkajYwJGwwJGgw |access-date=2025-06-01}}</ref> The county is run on a day-to-day basis by the County Executive Officer, which as of now is currently vacant following the termination of former CEO Michael Figueroa in April 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=County CEO, Clerk of the Board dismissed |url=https://www.ivpressonline.com/news/county-ceo-clerk-of-the-board-dismissed/article_ad73aa05-36fb-488a-8822-c177c49a6665.html |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Imperial Valley Press}}</ref> The county is advised as to legal matters by the County Counsel, who is currently Eric R. Havens<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eric Havens Appointed as New County Counsel |url=https://imperialcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/ERic-Havens-Appointed.pdf |access-date=2025-06-01}}</ref>

==Politics==
=== Voter registration statistics ===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! colspan="3" | Population and registered voters
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Total population<ref name="US-CB-B02001">U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. [https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website]  . Retrieved October 26, 2013.</ref>
| colspan="2" | 171,343
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;Registered voters<ref name="CA-SS">California Secretary of State. [http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ror/ror-pages/ror-odd-year-2013/political-sub.pdf February 10, 2013 – Report of Registration] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727173649/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ror/ror-pages/ror-odd-year-2013/political-sub.pdf |date=July 27, 2013 }}. Retrieved October 31, 2013.</ref><ref name="PCT-RV" group=note>Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.</ref>
| 60,690
| 35.4%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Democratic<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| 30,599
| 50.4%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Republican<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| 14,413
| 23.7%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Democratic–Republican spread<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| <span style="color: #2b00d6;">'''+16,186'''</span>
| <span style="color: #2b00d6;">'''+26.7%'''</span>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;American Independent<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| 1,402
| 2.3%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Green<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| 141
| 0.2%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Libertarian<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| 215
| 0.4%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Peace and Freedom<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| 255
| 0.4%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Americans Elect<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| 8
| 0.0%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| 358
| 0.6%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No party preference<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| 13,299
| 21.9%
|}

==== Cities by population and voter registration ====

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed sortable" style="width: 100%;"
|+ Cities by population and voter registration
|-
! City
! data-sort-type="number" | Population<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | Registered voters<ref name="CA-SS"/><br /><ref name="PCT-RV" group=note/>
! data-sort-type="number" | Democratic<ref name="CA-SS"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | Republican<ref name="CA-SS"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | D–R spread<ref name="CA-SS"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | Other<ref name="CA-SS"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | No party preference<ref name="CA-SS"/>
|-
| [[Brawley, California|Brawley]] || 24,645 || 37.1% || 50.5% || 26.7% || <span style="color: #2b00d6;">'''+23.8%'''</span> || 5.9% || 19.1%
|-
| [[Calexico, California|Calexico]] || 37,378 || 39.0% || 61.8% || 9.7% || <span style="color: #0000ff;">'''+52.1%'''</span> || 4.2% || 25.6%
|-
| [[Calipatria, California|Calipatria]] || 7,292 || 16.0% || 53.7% || 18.7% || <span style="color: #0000ff;">'''+35.0%'''</span> || 6.5% || 23.4%
|-
| [[El Centro, California|El Centro]] || 42,141 || 38.1% || 49.0% || 25.6% || <span style="color: #2b00d6;">'''+23.4%'''</span> || 6.0% || 21.6%
|-
| [[Holtville, California|Holtville]] || 5,908 || 35.3% || 45.0% || 28.4% || <span style="color: #2b00d6;">'''+16.6%'''</span> || 8.2% || 21.5%
|-
| [[Imperial, California|Imperial]] || 14,017 || 40.9% || 39.6% || 32.4% || <span style="color: #800080;">'''+7.2%'''</span> || 7.9% || 23.1%
|-
| [[Westmorland, California|Westmorland]] || 1,714 || 42.8% || 56.0% || 19.5% || <span style="color: #0000ff;">'''+36.5%'''</span> || 7.1% || 20.0%
|}

=== Overview ===
Previously strongly Republican, Imperial County was a Democratic stronghold in presidential, congressional, and local elections until 2024. The last Republican to win a majority in the county was [[George H. W. Bush]] in [[United States presidential election in California, 1988|1988]].

However, in [[2024 United States presidential election in California|2024]], Republican [[Donald Trump]] flipped the county, receiving 49.12% of the vote, the highest percentage since 1988. The county swung over 25 points to the right from 2020 to 2024, the most of any county in California. This was in line with a trend of Trump winning most [[List of majority-Hispanic or Latino counties in the United States|majority-Hispanic]] counties along the [[Mexico–United States border|Mexico-U.S. border]] in 2024.

{{PresHead|place=Imperial County, California|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/index.html|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|26,546|26,083|1,409|California}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|20,847|34,678|1,218|California}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|12,704|32,667|2,720|California}}  
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|12,777|25,136|652|California}}  
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|14,008|24,162|650|California}}  
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|15,890|17,964|420|California}}  
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|12,524|15,489|924|California}}  
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|9,705|14,591|2,104|California}}  
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|9,759|11,109|4,450|California}}  
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|12,889|10,243|233|California}}  
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|13,829|8,237|235|California}}  
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|12,068|7,961|1,550|California}}  
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|10,618|10,244|400|California}}  
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|14,178|7,982|689|California}}  
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|10,818|7,481|2,147|California}}  
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|10,330|11,143|19|California}}  
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|10,606|9,119|81|California}}  
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|10,526|8,197|58|California}}  
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|11,044|6,619|112|California}}  
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|6,217|5,301|292|California}}  
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|5,979|5,085|48|California}}  
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|6,854|7,728|130|California}}  
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,771|7,560|113|California}}  
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,783|8,772|484|California}}  
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|5,417|2,486|109|California}}  
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,455|759|2,658|California}}  
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,699|2,022|563|California}}  
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,694|3,273|692|California}}  
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|13|1,295|2,059|California}}  
{{PresFoot|1908|Republican|909|675|324|California}}

On November 4, 2008, Imperial County voted 69.7% for [[California Proposition 8 (2008)|Proposition 8]], which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages, showing more support for the proposition than any other strongly Democratic county.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_general/maps/returns/props/prop-8.htm|title=Proposition 8 Map – November 4, 2008, General Election – California Secretary of State|website=Sos.ca.gov|access-date=August 17, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090808223850/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_general/maps/returns/props/prop-8.htm|archive-date=August 8, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ror/ror-pages/15day-stwdsp-09/county.xls|title=Registration by County|website=Sos.ca.gov|access-date=August 17, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012044147/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ror/ror-pages/15day-stwdsp-09/county.xls|archive-date=October 12, 2009}}</ref> After Prop 8 was declared unconstitutional by a lower federal court, Imperial County continued to defend Proposition 8 in the federal judicial system.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/22/MNTK1F0U3N.DTL | work=The San Francisco Chronicle | title=Imperial County steps up to defend Prop. 8 | first=Kevin | last=Fagan | date=August 26, 2010 | access-date=August 25, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825161408/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2010%2F08%2F22%2FMNTK1F0U3N.DTL | archive-date=August 25, 2010 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> However, on February 6, 2012, the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit]] denied Imperial County [[legal standing]] in the case [[Hollingsworth v. Perry]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Denniston|first=Lyle|title=Prop. 8: Final ruling due|url=http://www.scotusblog.com/2012/02/prop-8-final-ruling-due/|access-date=June 18, 2013|newspaper=[[SCOTUSblog]]|date=February 6, 2012}}</ref>

In 2024, Imperial County also voted against [[2024 California Proposition 3]], which superseded Proposition 8, unlike its neighboring counties. However, the county voted for the unsuccessful [[2024 California Proposition 32]], which would have raised California's minimum wage to $18/hour, also unlike its neighboring counties. This indicates the county's political views are socially conservative, but fiscally liberal. The county voted for [[2025 California Proposition 50]], being one of several counties that voted for Donald Trump in 2024 to support the proposition.

Imperial County is in {{Representative|cacd|25|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|25|access-date=April 7, 2013}}</ref> In the [[California State Legislature|state legislature]], the county is in {{Representative|caad|36|fmt=adistrict}},<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers |title=Members Assembly |access-date=April 7, 2013 |publisher=State of California}}</ref> and {{Representative|casd|18|fmt=sdistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators |title=Senators |access-date=April 7, 2013 |publisher=State of California}}</ref>

== Crime ==

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! colspan="3" | Population and crime rates
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Population<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>
| colspan="2" | 171,343
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Violent crime<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11">Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. [http://stats.doj.ca.gov/cjsc_stats/prof09/00/11.pdf Table 11: Crimes – 2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202222315/http://stats.doj.ca.gov/cjsc_stats/prof09/00/11.pdf |date=December 2, 2013 }}. Retrieved November 14, 2013.</ref>
| 590 || 3.44
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;Homicide<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>
| 3 || 0.02
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;Forcible rape<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>
| 18 || 0.11
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;Robbery<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>
| 99 || 0.58
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;Aggravated assault<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>
| 470 || 2.74
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Property crime<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>
| 3,134 || 18.29
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;Burglary<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>
| 1,758 || 10.26
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;Larceny-theft<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/><ref name="LT-note group=note">Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.</ref>
| 2,944 || 17.18
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;Motor vehicle theft<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>
| 940 || 5.49
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Arson<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>
| 44 || 0.26
|}

=== Cities by population and crime rates ===

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed sortable" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! colspan="9" | Cities by population and crime rates
|-
! City
! data-sort-type="number" | Population<ref name="FBI-UCR-T8">United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. [https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/crime-in-the-u.s.-2012/tables/8tabledatadecpdf/table-8-state-cuts/table_8_offenses_known_to_law_enforcement_by_california_by_city_2012.xls Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California)]. Retrieved November 14, 2013.</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | Violent crimes<ref name="FBI-UCR-T8"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | Violent crime rate<br />per 1,000 persons
! data-sort-type="number" | Property crimes<ref name="FBI-UCR-T8"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | Property crime rate<br />per 1,000 persons
|-
| [[Brawley, California|Brawley]] || 25,570 || 59 || 2.31 || 1,176 || 45.99
|-
| [[Calexico, California|Calexico]] || 39,527 || 108 || 2.73 || 1,538 || 38.91
|-
| [[El Centro, California|El Centro]] || 43,643 || 166 || 3.80 || 2,477 || 56.76
|-
| [[Holtville, California|Holtville]] || 6,088 || 11 || 1.81 || 98 || 16.10
|-
| [[Imperial, California|Imperial]] || 15,126 || 7 || 0.46 || 73 || 4.83
|-
| [[Westmorland, California|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.<ref name="elcentrochamber"/> Although this region is a desert, with high temperatures and low average rainfall of {{convert|3|in}} 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]].<ref name = "iid"/>

[[File:20210515180516 IMG 2448 Canal Imperial Valley.jpg|thumb|Irrigation Canal Imperial County]]

A vast system of [[canal]]s, 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 {{convert|1,400|mi|km}} of canal and with {{convert|1,100|mi|km}} of pipeline.<ref name = "water trans"/> 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.<ref>{{cite report |date= 2017|title= Field Seeds, Grass Seeds, Forage, Hay, and Silage: 2017 and 2012 |publisher=US Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service |url= https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2017/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_2_County_Level/California/st06_2_0026_0026.pdf |page=8 |access-date=April 20, 2023}}</ref> Imperial County produces nearly 2/3 of all vegetables consumed by Americans during the winter.<ref>{{cite web|title=Quick Facts About Imperial County Agriculture |url=http://www.co.imperial.ca.us/AirPollution/Forms%20&%20Documents/AGRICULTURE/QuickFactsAboutIVag.pdf |website=Imperial County Farm Bureau |access-date=March 22, 2018 |archive-date=February 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218232545/http://www.co.imperial.ca.us/AirPollution/Forms%20%26%20Documents/AGRICULTURE/QuickFactsAboutIVag.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iid.com/index.php |title=IID |access-date=August 3, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603111125/http://www.iid.com/index.php |archive-date=June 3, 2009}}</ref>

Cotton in Imperial County and [[Riverside County, California|Riverside]] is predominantly [[Bt cotton]].<ref name="Reduc-Pesti" />{{rp|page=Supplemental}} This is in contrast to the rest of the state, which largely relies on non-incorporated [[pesticide]]s.<ref name="Reduc-Pesti" />{{rp|page=Supplemental}} The introduction of Bt cotton has dramatically reduced [[pesticide application|pesticide use]] here.<ref name="Reduc-Pesti">{{cite journal | year=2003 | issue=1 | volume=41 | publisher=[[Annual Reviews (publisher)|Annual Reviews]] | journal=[[Annual Review of Phytopathology]] | issn=0066-4286 | first2=Susan | first1=Lynn | last1=Epstein | last2=Bassein | title=Patterns of Pesticide Use in California and The Implications for Strategies for Reduction of Pesticides | doi=10.1146/annurev.phyto.41.052002.095612 | pages=351–375 | pmid=14527333| bibcode=2003AnRvP..41..351E }}</ref>{{rp|page=Supplemental}}

[[El Centro]] is the commercial center of Imperial County. Fifty percent of the jobs in El Centro come from the service and retail sector.<ref name="elcentrochamber">{{cite web|url=http://www.elcentrochamber.org/the-city-of-el-centro/community/ |title=El Centro Chamber of Commerce |access-date=August 3, 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>

The growth of Imperial County as a filming location has spurred growth in servicing this industry.<ref name="elcentrochamber"/> Because of the county's desert environment and proximity to [[Los Angeles, California]], movies are sometimes filmed in the sand dunes outside the agricultural portions of the county. These have included ''Return of the Jedi'', ''[[Stargate]]'', ''[[The Scorpion King]]'', and ''[[Into the Wild (film)|Into the Wild]]''. Additionally, portions of the 2005 film ''[[Jarhead (film)|Jarhead]]'' were filmed here because of its similarity to the desert terrain of [[Iraq]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}}

In 2016, Imperial County had the highest unemployment rate of any county in the United States, at 23.5%.<ref>{{cite web |title=Labor Force Data by County, 2016 Annual Averages |url=https://www.bls.gov/lau/#cntyaa |access-date=September 8, 2017 |publisher=U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}}</ref>

===Renewable energy===
Imperial Valley has become a hotbed of renewable energy projects, both solar and geothermal.<ref name=npr>[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102679730 "Calif. Desert Becomes Home For Renewable Energy"], Rob Schmitz, ''[[Morning Edition]]'', April 3, 2009, [[NPR]]</ref> This is driven in part by California's mandate to generate 20% of its power from renewable sources by the end of 2010, the valley's excellent sun resources, the high unemployment, its proximity to large population centers on the coast, and large tracts of otherwise unusable desert land.<ref name=npr/> Much of the land suitable for green energy is owned by the federal government ([[Bureau of Land Management]]). As of April 2008, the BLM has received 163 applications to build renewable energy projects on {{convert|1600000|acre|km2|sigfig=2}} in California. Almost all of these are planned for the Imperial Valley and the desert region north of the valley.<ref name=npr/> Stirling Energy is currently building one of the world's largest [[solar thermal]] plants, {{convert|10|sqmi|km2|sigfig=2}} with 38,000 "sun catchers," it will power up to 600,000 homes once it is fully operational by around 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Olson |first=Syanne |date=February 18, 2011 |title=AES Solar buys Tessera Solar's Imperial Valley project with intent to turn CSP into PV |url=https://www.pv-tech.org/aes_solar_buys_tessera_solars_imperial_valley_project_with_intent_to_turn_c/ |access-date=January 29, 2024 |work=PV Tech |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=npr/> CalEnergy runs a geothermal plant that generates enough power for 300,000 homes and could tap into more for up to 2.5 million homes.<ref name=npr/>

==Transportation==
[[File:CA 86 Salton City.JPG|thumb|right|[[California State Route 86|State Route 86]] north of [[Salton City]]]]
[[File:Interstate_8.jpg|thumb|Dogwood Bridge over Interstate 8 in El Centro]]

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
*[[Image:I-8 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 8 in California|Interstate 8]]
*[[Image:California 7.svg|20px]] [[California State Route 7|State Route 7]]
*[[Image:California 78.svg|20px]] [[California State Route 78|State Route 78]]
*[[Image:California 86.svg|20px]] [[California State Route 86|State Route 86]]
*[[Image:California 98.svg|20px]] [[California State Route 98|State Route 98]]
*[[Image:California 111.svg|20px]] [[California State Route 111|State Route 111]]
*[[Image:California 115.svg|20px]] [[California State Route 115|State Route 115]]
*[[Image:California 186.svg|20px]] [[California State Route 186|State Route 186]]
{{div col end}}

Imperial County is at the junction of one interstate, and three state highways. Radiating to the east and west are connections to the [[Arizona Sun Corridor]] and [[San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan area]] via [[Interstate 8]], [[Blythe, California|Blythe]], and northern [[San Diego County]] via [[California State Route 78|State Route 78]], the [[Mexicali Valley]] via [[California State Route 111|State Route 111]], and the [[Coachella Valley]], [[Inland Empire (California)|Inland Empire]], and [[Los Angeles metropolitan area]] via [[California State Route 86|State Route 86]].

===Public transportation===
[[File:ImperialValleyTransit.jpg|thumb|Imperial Valley Transit bus]]
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|Yuma]], [[Arizona]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.ivpressonline.com/2013-01-03/el-centro_36137282|title=Route connects El Centro, Yuma|newspaper=schurz-ivpressonline|access-date=December 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220144314/http://articles.ivpressonline.com/2013-01-03/el-centro_36137282|archive-date=December 20, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imperialctc.org/media/module/content_item/ICTC_COM_Agenda_072716.pdf|title=ICTC/YCIPTA/Quechan Transit Services|website=Imperialctc.org|access-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref> [[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 {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} east of Holtville.

====Municipal ownership====
* [[Brawley Municipal Airport]] is a public use general aviation airport, owned by and located in Brawley.
* [[Calexico Airport]] is a public use general aviation field, owned by and located in Calexico. It is located {{convert|15|mi|km}} south of [[Interstate 8 (California)|Interstate 8]] on [[California State Route 111|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 Airport]] is a private use facility in El Centro. It was formerly a military airfield.

====Military====
* [[Naval Air Facility El Centro]] is a [[U.S. Navy]] airfield in El Centro.

==Communities==

===Cities===
{{Div col begin|colwidth=15em}}
*[[Brawley, California|Brawley]]
*[[Calexico, California|Calexico]]
*[[Calipatria, California|Calipatria]]
*[[El Centro, California|El Centro]] (county seat)
*[[Holtville, California|Holtville]]
*[[Imperial, California|Imperial]]
*[[Westmorland, California|Westmorland]]
{{Div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*[[Bombay Beach, California|Bombay Beach]]
*[[Desert Shores, California|Desert Shores]]
*[[El Centro Naval Air Facility, California (CDP)|El Centro NAF]]
*[[Heber, California|Heber]]
*[[Niland, California|Niland]]
*[[Ocotillo, California|Ocotillo]]
*[[Palo Verde, California|Palo Verde]]
*[[Salton Sea Beach, California|Salton Sea Beach]]
*[[Salton City, California|Salton City]]
*[[Seeley, California|Seeley]]
*[[Winterhaven, California|Winterhaven]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*[[Alamorio, California|Alamorio]]
*[[Andrade, California|Andrade]]
*[[Bard, California|Bard]]
*[[Bonds Corner, California|Bonds Corner]]
*[[Boulder Park, California|Boulder Park]]
*[[Coyote Wells, California|Coyote Wells]]
*[[Dixieland, California|Dixieland]]
*[[Felicity, California|Felicity]]
*[[Glamis, California|Glamis]]
*[[Kane Spring, California|Kane Spring]]
*[[Meloland, California|Meloland]]
*[[Mount Signal, California|Mount Signal]]
*[[Obregon, California|Obregon]]
*[[Picacho, California|Picacho]]
*[[Plaster City, California|Plaster City]]
*[[Slab City, California|Slab City]]
{{div col end}}

===Former settlements===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Bradtmoore, California|Bradtmoore]]
* [[Camp Gaston]]
* [[Carrizo Creek Station]]
* [[Hedges, California|Hedges]]
* [[Indian Wells, Imperial County, California|Indian Wells]]
* [[Jaeger City, California|Jaeger City]]
* [[Ogilby, California|Ogilby]]
* [[Pilot Knob Station]]
* [[Potholes, California|Potholes]]
* [[Sackett's Wells, California|Sackett's Wells]]
* [[Silsbee, California|Silsbee]]
* [[Hedges, California|Tumco]]
{{div col end}}

===Indian Reservations===

*[[Fort Yuma Indian Reservation]] (partially in [[Yuma County, Arizona]])
*[[Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians|Torres-Martinez Indian Reservation]] (partially in [[Riverside County, California|Riverside County]])

===Population ranking===

The population ranking of the following table is based on the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]] of Imperial County.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |title=2010 U.S. Census website |access-date=February 10, 2013 }}</ref>

'''†''' ''county seat''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Rank
!City/Town/etc.
!Municipal type
!Population (2010 Census)

|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1
|'''†''' '''[[El Centro, California|El Centro]]''' 
| City
| 42,598
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 2
|'''[[Calexico, California|Calexico]]''' 
| City
| 38,572
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 3
|'''[[Brawley, California|Brawley]]''' 
| City
| 24,953
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 4
|'''[[Imperial, California|Imperial]]''' 
| City
| 14,758
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 5
|'''[[Calipatria, California|Calipatria]]''' 
| City
| 7,705
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 6
|'''[[Holtville, California|Holtville]]''' 
| City
| 5,939
|- style="background-color:#FFFF99;"
| 7
|'''[[Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians|Torres-Martinez Reservation]]'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=4255 |title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search |access-date=December 7, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118043556/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=4255 |archive-date=January 18, 2017 }}</ref> 
| [[AIAN (U.S. Census)|AIAN]]
| 5,594
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 8
|'''[[Heber, California|Heber]]''' 
| CDP
| 4,275
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 9
|'''[[Salton City, California|Salton City]]''' 
| CDP
| 3,763
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 10
|'''[[Westmorland, California|Westmorland]]''' 
| City
| 2,225
|- style="background-color:#FFFF99;"
| 11
|'''[[Fort Yuma Indian Reservation]]'''<ref>[https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=1280] {{dead link|date=November 2017}}</ref> (''partially in [[Yuma County, Arizona|Yuma County, AZ]]'') 
| AIAN
| 2,189
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 12
|'''[[Seeley, California|Seeley]]''' 
| CDP
| 1,739
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 13
|'''[[Desert Shores, California|Desert Shores]]''' 
| CDP
| 1,104
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 14
|'''[[Niland, California|Niland]]''' 
| CDP
| 1,006
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 15
|'''[[Salton Sea Beach, California|Salton Sea Beach]]''' 
| CDP
| 422
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 16
|'''[[Winterhaven, California|Winterhaven]]''' 
| CDP
| 394
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 17
|'''[[Bombay Beach, California|Bombay Beach]]''' 
| CDP
| 295
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 18
|'''[[Ocotillo, California|Ocotillo]]''' 
| CDP
| 266
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 19
|'''[[Palo Verde, California|Palo Verde]]''' 
| CDP
| 171
|}

===Area codes===
{{Main|List of California area codes}}

'''[[Area codes 442 and 760|442/760]]''' – Covers all of the El Centro metropolitan area as well as [[Palm Springs, California|Palm Springs]], [[Oceanside, California|Oceanside]], [[Bishop, California|Bishop]], [[Ridgecrest, California|Ridgecrest]], [[Barstow, California|Barstow]], and [[Needles, California|Needles]]; northern [[San Diego County, California|San Diego County]]; and southeastern California, including much of the [[Mojave Desert]] and the [[Owens Valley]]. Area code 760 split from area code 619 on March 22, 1997, and was overlaid with area code 442 in 2009.

==Education==
School districts are:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06025_imperial/DC20SD_C06025.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Imperial County, CA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 25, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06025_imperial/DC20SD_C06025_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

Unified:
{{div col}}
* [[Calexico Unified School District]]
* [[Calipatria Unified School District]]
* [[Coachella Valley Unified School District]]
* [[Holtville Unified School District]]
* [[Imperial Unified School District]]
* [[San Pasqual Valley Unified School District]]
{{div col end}}

Secondary:
* [[Brawley Union High School District]]
* [[Central Union High School District]]

Elementary:
{{div col}}
* [[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]]
{{div col end}}

== See also ==
* [[Niland Geyser]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Imperial County, California]]
* [[Southern Border Region (California)]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Imperial County}}
*{{Official website}}
*{{OSM relation|396515}}
*[http://www.iid.com/ Imperial Irrigation District] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704131404/http://www.iid.com/ |date=July 4, 2015 }}
*[http://www.ivedc.com/ Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080724131405/http://censtats.census.gov/data/CA/05006025.pdf Statistical profile of Imperial County, California]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Imperial County, California
|North     = [[Riverside County, California|Riverside County]]
|Northeast = [[La Paz County, Arizona]]
|East      =
|Southeast = [[Yuma County, Arizona]]
|South     = [[Mexicali Municipality]] {{flagicon|Mexico}}
|Southwest = [[Tecate Municipality]] {{flagicon|Mexico}}
|West      = [[San Diego County, California|San Diego County]]
|Northwest =
}}
{{Cities of Imperial County, California}}
{{Border Region (California)}}
{{California}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|33.04|-115.35|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-CA_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Imperial County, California| ]]
[[Category:California counties]]
[[Category:Imperial Valley]]
[[Category:Counties in Southern California]]
[[Category:1907 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1907]]
[[Category:Geography of Imperial County, California| ]]
[[Category:Majority-minority counties in California]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American culture in California]]