Imperial County, Administrative county in Southern California, United States
Imperial County is an administrative unit in southern California bordering Mexico, spanning a mix of desert landscape and irrigated fields. The area includes seven cities, among them El Centro as the administrative center, plus rural areas with communities along the Salton Sea and the Colorado Desert.
The administrative unit was created in 1907 from parts of San Diego County, marking the last new county in California. Irrigation projects transformed the dry Colorado Desert into farmable land from the early 20th century onward.
The name comes from Imperial Valley, which was created through an extensive irrigation system drawing water from the Colorado River. Visitors today see fields directly bordering dry desert terrain, and small towns with Spanish-language shops and restaurants reflecting daily exchange with neighboring communities across the border.
The administrative center in El Centro offers public services such as permits and documents. Most towns sit along the main roads crossing the valley, with gas stations and shops in the larger settlements.
The Salton Sea, a shallow inland body of water southeast of the towns, formed in 1905 when an irrigation canal broke and is now a major stopover for migratory birds. Nearby, power plants use underground heat to generate electricity.
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