Although this region is a desert, with high temperatures and low average rainfall of 3 inches (76 mm) per year,[9] the economy is strongly based on agriculture. This is supported byirrigation, with water supplied wholly from theColorado River via theAll-American Canal.[10]
TheImperial Valley straddles the border between theUnited States andMexico. 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.
Spanish explorerMelchor Díaz was one of the firstEuropeans to visit the area of the Imperial Valley in 1540. The explorerJuan Bautista de Anza also explored the area in 1776.[11] The indigenous peoples in the county were also engaged in an armed regional conflict, with the Quechan leading a coalition with the Kumeyaay against theMaricopa-led coalition with the Cahuilla,Cocopah, and other tribes in modern-day Arizona. Constant warfare would deny the Spanish explorers any overland access toAlta California, despite Spanish attempts to mediate the conflict.[12]
Decades later, after theMexican–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 theGlanton Gang sabotaged Quechan ferry operators and mugged a local Quechan chief. This would lead towards the start of theYuma War, with a Quechan-led coalition of tribes against the US army and their indigenous allies inBaja California andSonora. In the First Yuma War, the Quechan laid siege onFort 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.[13] 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 ofMexicali), but most permanent settlement was after 1900.[14]
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 theSalton Sink in what is now called theSalton Sea.[15]
Imperial County was formed in 1907 from the eastern portion ofSan Diego County. The county was named for Imperial Valley. This had been named for theImperial Land Company, a subsidiary of theCalifornia Development Company, which at the turn of the 20th century had claimed the southern portion of the Colorado Desert for agriculture.[16] 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. TheMexican 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 theGreat Depression and theDust 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 intoWorld War II stimulated the growth of jobs and need to expanded agriculture, and theAll American Canal was completed from its source, theColorado 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 theGreat 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.[17]
Fort Yuma is located on the banks of theColorado River inWinterhaven, California. First established after the end of theMexican–American War in 1848, it was originally located in the bottoms near the Colorado River, less than 1 mile (1.6 km) below the mouth of theGila River. It was to defend the newly settled community ofYuma, Arizona, on the other side of the Colorado River and the nearbyMexican 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 formerMission Puerto de Purísima Concepción. This site had been occupied by Camp Calhoun, named forJohn C. Calhoun, established in 1849. Fort Yuma was established to protect the southern emigrant travel route to California and to attempt control of theYuma Indians in the surrounding 100-mile (160 km) area.[18]
The city ofImperial is home to the California Mid-Winter Fair and Fiesta which is the local county fair, held in late February to early March.[20] It is also home to the Imperial Valley Speedway, a race track of3⁄8 mile (600 m).[21]
The nameAlgodones Dunes refers to the entire geographic feature, while the administrative designation for that portion managed by theBureau 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 40 miles (64 km) along the eastern edge of theImperial Valley agricultural region in a band averaging 5 miles (8 km) 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 atHighway 78 and continues south just pastInterstate 8. The expansive dune formations offer picturesque scenery, a chance to view rare plants and animals, and a playground forATV and off-roading enthusiasts. The dunes are also popular in film making and have been the site for movies such asReturn of the Jedi.[22]
TheColorado River streams through the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately 1,450 miles (2,330 km) long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of theRocky Mountains. The natural course of the river flows from north of Grand Lake, Colorado, into theGulf 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.[23] The river is a popular destination for water sports, including fishing, boating, water skiing, and jet skiing.[24]
Salvation Mountain is an artificial mountain north ofCalipatria, California, nearSlab City. It is made from adobe, straw, and thousands of gallons of paint. It was created byLeonard 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.
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 inCalifornia. 500 miles (800 km) of dirt roads, twelve wilderness areas, and many more miles of hiking trails provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wonders of theColorado Desert. The park's name is a combination of the last name of Spanish explorerJuan Bautista de Anza, and the Spanish word forbighorn 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 bloomingwildflowers, flowering and fruitingcacti and numerous other species of native flora. Fauna that visitors may also have the chance to see include thebobcat,coyote,golden eagle,kit fox,mule deer,mountain lion,red-tailed hawk androadrunner, 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 thebanded gecko,chuckwalla,desert iguana,desert tortoise,desert sidewinder,gopher snake,kingsnake,red diamond rattlesnake and therosy boa.[25]
Located nearOcotillo, California in theCoyote Mountains,Fossil Canyon (and the surrounding area) is a great place for rock-hounding andfossil hunting. The fossils here are not necessarily of dinosaurs; more commonly found are ancientoyster andseashell,coral, and other marine life from the prehistoricMiocene epoch, when the entire area was submerged as part of theWestern Interior Seaway.[26]
ThePainted Gorge, located on the eastern side of the Coyote Mountains, consists ofsedimentary,metamorphic andigneous 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.[27]
TheImperial National Wildlife Refuge protects wildlife habitat along 30 miles (50 km) of the lowerColorado River inArizona andCalifornia, including the last un-channeled section before the river entersMexico. 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.[28]
TheSonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge is located 40 miles (64 km) north of theMexican border at the southern end of theSalton Sea in California'sImperial Valley. Situated along thePacific Flyway, the refuge is the only one of its kind, located 227 feet (69 m) below sea level. Because of its southern latitude, elevation, and location in theColorado Desert, the refuge experiences some of the highest temperatures in the nation. Daily temperatures from May to October generally exceed 100 °F (38 °C) with temperatures of 116–120 °F (47–49 °C) recorded yearly.[29]
TheMuseum of History in Granite in the town of Felicity exhibits granite monuments made from Missouri Red Granite. Each is 100 feet (30 m) long. Subjects include a Korean War Memorial, History of Arizona, The Wall for the Ages, the eight monument History of Humanity, and the History of the United States of America. Smaller monuments include the Felicity Stone (sm), a Rosetta Stone for the future located at the center of the History of Humanity monuments.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,482 square miles (11,610 km2), of which 4,177 square miles (10,820 km2) is land and 305 square miles (790 km2) (6.8%) is water.[30] Much of Imperial County is below sea level. Imperial County is roughly twice the size in total square miles as the State of Delaware.
In this region, thegeology is dominated by the transition of thetectonic plate boundary fromrift tofault. The southernmost strands of theSan Andreas Fault connect the northernmost extensions of theEast Pacific Rise. Consequently, the region is subject toearthquakes, 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.[32]
Imperial County, California – Racial and ethnic composition 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.
As of thecensus[47] of 2000, there were 142,361 people, 39,384 households, and 31,467 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 34 people per square mile (13 people/km2). There were 43,891 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (3.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 49.4%White, 4.0%Black orAfrican American, 1.9%Native American, 2.0%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 39.1% fromother races, and 3.7% from two or more races. 72.2% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 65.7% spokeSpanish at home, while 32.3% spoke onlyEnglish.
There were 39,384 households, out of which 46.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $13,239. About 19.4% of families and 22.6% of the population were below thepoverty 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 inSouthern 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.
The county is governed by the Imperial County Board of Supervisors, a five-member board elected by districts.[48] Supervisors serve four-year terms. Other elected county officials include the Assessor,[49] Auditor-Controller,[50] District Attorney,[51] County Clerk-Recorder,[52] Public Administrator,[53] Sheriff-Coroner,[54] and Treasurer-Tax Collector.[55] 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.[56] The county is advised as to legal matters by the County Counsel, who is currently Eric R. Havens[57]
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 wasGeorge H. W. Bush in1988.
However, in2024, RepublicanDonald 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 mostmajority-Hispanic counties along theMexico-U.S. border in 2024.
United States presidential election results for Imperial County, California[60]
On November 4, 2008, Imperial County voted 69.7% forProposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages, showing more support for the proposition than any other strongly Democratic county.[61][62] After Prop 8 was declared unconstitutional by a lower federal court, Imperial County continued to defend Proposition 8 in the federal judicial system.[63] However, on February 6, 2012, theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied Imperial Countylegal standing in the caseHollingsworth v. Perry.[64]
In 2024, Imperial County also voted against2024 California Proposition 3, which superseded Proposition 8, unlike its neighboring counties. However, the county voted for the unsuccessful2024 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 for2025 California Proposition 50, being one of several counties that voted for Donald Trump in 2024 to support the proposition.
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.[71] Although this region is a desert, with high temperatures and low average rainfall of 3 inches (76 mm) per year, the economy is heavily based on agriculture due toirrigation, which is supplied wholly from theColorado River via theAll-American Canal.[9]
Irrigation Canal Imperial County
A vast system ofcanals, check dams, and pipelines carry the water all over the valley, a system which forms theImperial Irrigation District, or IID. The water distribution system includes over 1,400 miles (2,300 km) of canal and with 1,100 miles (1,800 km) of pipeline.[10] 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.[72] Imperial County produces nearly 2/3 of all vegetables consumed by Americans during the winter.[73] The agricultural lands are served by a constructed agricultural drain system, which conveyssurface runoff and subsurface drainage from fields to theSalton Sea, which is a designated repository for agricultural runoff.[74]
Cotton in Imperial County andRiverside is predominantlyBt cotton.[75]: Supplemental This is in contrast to the rest of the state, which largely relies on non-incorporatedpesticides.[75]: Supplemental The introduction of Bt cotton has dramatically reducedpesticide use here.[75]: 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.[71]
The growth of Imperial County as a filming location has spurred growth in servicing this industry.[71] Because of the county's desert environment and proximity toLos Angeles, California, movies are sometimes filmed in the sand dunes outside the agricultural portions of the county. These have includedReturn of the Jedi,Stargate,The Scorpion King, andInto the Wild. Additionally, portions of the 2005 filmJarhead were filmed here because of its similarity to the desert terrain ofIraq.[citation needed]
In 2016, Imperial County had the highest unemployment rate of any county in the United States, at 23.5%.[76]
Imperial Valley has become a hotbed of renewable energy projects, both solar and geothermal.[77] 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.[77] 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 1,600,000 acres (6,500 km2) in California. Almost all of these are planned for the Imperial Valley and the desert region north of the valley.[77] Stirling Energy is currently building one of the world's largestsolar thermal plants, 10 square miles (26 km2) with 38,000 "sun catchers," it will power up to 600,000 homes once it is fully operational by around 2015.[78][77] 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.[77]
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 theEssential Air Service program.
Holtville Airport is a public use general aviation airport, owned by the county and located roughly 5 miles (8 km) east of Holtville.
^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.
^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.ISBN1-58544-535-5.
^"Tour Imperial Valley".CaliforniaResortLife. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. RetrievedDecember 15, 2015.
^abcU.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001.U.S. Census website . Retrieved October 26, 2013.
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