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Detailed pages on related topics: El Centro colleges • El Centro travel • El Centro mortgage and property.
Introduction to El Centro, California
El Centro, California, in Imperial county, is 54 miles W of Yuma, Arizona (center to center) and 92 miles E of San Diego, California. It's the largest city in the Imperial Valley and is situated below sea level. El Centro is the region's commercial center and includes farms and food processing facilities. The region is a primary winter vegetables production area. The city has an arid climate and receives less than three inches of yearly rain. El Centro has sunshine for most days of the year and the summers feature some very hot weather.
The majority of the population is Hispanic. The old downtown includes structures featuring the Mexican-Spanish "arcade" architecture. It's a desert community flanked by thousands of acres of agricultural fields. The close by Navy base serves as a home to the Blue Angels air show team during the winter.
El Centro History
The initial settlers worked for the railroad and lived in tent cities. Beginning in 1910 permanent housing was built near the railroad tracks. The region became a prominent agricultural area after water was transported from the Colorado River by way of canals. The irrigation of the desert valley was a major factor for the growth of the community. The city experienced a powerful earthquake in 1940.
El Centro Attractions
El Centro Activities
The Herbert Dunes State Vehicle Recreation Area is popular for off-road recreation and it's used for camping and picnics. Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area offers a picturesque landscape and is one of the biggest dune systems in the nation. Some of the sand dunes are over 300 feet high. The Ocotillo Wells State Vehicle Recreation Area has a desert terrain for off-road action. The landscape has numerous dunes as well as a sand bowl and a camp area.
Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge is a vast acreage which includes a salt marsh and a portion of the Salton Sea. The refuge also features a pasture area and provides opportunities to view wildlife. The Salton Sea is regarded as one of the largest inland seas in the world. It's used for boating and water skiing. The area includes several golf courses.
El Centro Transportation
Air travel is offered at the Imperial County Airport.
El Centro Higher Education
Residents have opportunities for higher education at Imperial Valley College.
El Centro strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in California):
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Short Commute Times (vs. State) | Top 7% |  |
| Walking and Biking to Work (vs. Peers) | Top 15% | |
| Affordability of Rents (vs. State) | Top 18% | |
| Affordability of Property Taxes (vs. Peers) | Top 19% | |
Comparing El Centro to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in California (State):
Ratings range from 
(lowest) to 
(highest).
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Children Under 5 Years Old |  |  |
| Racial Diversity | |  |
| Male Share of the Population | |  |
| Female Share of the Population |  | |
| Senior Citizens |  | |
| Age of the Population |  | |
| Well-Paid Single Men | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | | |
| Portion of People Married | |  |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| College Educated Adults | | |
| Median Family Income | | |
| People Above Poverty | | |
| People in Middle Class or Better | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Walking and Biking to Work | | |
| Short Commute Times | | |
| Working at Home | | |
| Public Transportation Use | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Seasonal and Vacation Housing | | |
| Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals | | |
| Affordability of Property Taxes | | |
| Affordability of Rents | | |
| Housing Recently Built | | |
| People Living Alone | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Low Property Crime | | |
| Low Violent Crime | | |
Detailed pages on related topics: El Centro colleges • El Centro travel • El Centro mortgage and property.
 | El Centro Careers El Centro career and employment information. |
 | El Centro Colleges El Centro colleges and trade schools. |
 | El Centro Hotels & Travel El Centro hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation. |
 | El Centro Mortgage El Centro property, mortgage, and real estate. |
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We've crunched the numbers to create PlaceMatch™, which compares thousands of cities and towns to find the places most similar to each.
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