Calipatria, California
City of Calipatria | |
|---|---|
_(crop).jpg) | |
 Seal  Logo | |
 Location of Calipatria in Imperial County, California. | |
  City of Calipatria Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates: 33°07′32″N 115°30′51″W / 33.12556°N 115.51417°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Imperial |
| Incorporated | February 28, 1919[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.70 sq mi (9.58 km2) |
| • Land | 3.70 sq mi (9.58 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | −180 ft (−50 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 6,515 |
| • Density | 1,761.29/sq mi (680.12/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code | 92233 |
| Area codes | 442/760 |
| FIPS code | 06-09878 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 1652681, 2409962 |
| Website | www |
Calipatria (portmanteau of California and Patria, Spanish for "homeland") is a city in Imperial County, California. Calipatria is located 23 miles (37 km) north of El Centro.[4] It is part of the El Centro Metropolitan Area. The population was 6,515 at the 2020 census, down from 7,710 at the 2010 census, up from 7,289 at the 2000 census, including 4000 inmates at Calipatria State Prison. The community is located along State Route 111.
Geography
[edit]Calipatria is located at 33°07′32″N 115°30′51″W / 33.12556°N 115.51417°W.[5]
At an elevation of 180 feet (55 m) below sea level,[3] Calipatria is the lowest incorporated city in the Western Hemisphere. The city currently claims to have the "tallest flagpole (184 feet) where the flag flies at sea level"[6] at 184 feet (56 m), so their American flag will always fly above sea level.[7]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.6 km2), all land.
Climate
[edit]This area has a large amount of sunshine year round due to its stable descending air and high pressure. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Calipatria has a hot desert climate, abbreviated "Bwh" on climate maps.[8]
| Climate data for Calipatria (180 feet below sea level) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 71.0 (21.7) |
74.0 (23.3) |
80.0 (26.7) |
86.0 (30.0) |
95.0 (35.0) |
103.0 (39.4) |
107.0 (41.7) |
107.0 (41.7) |
102.0 (38.9) |
91.0 (32.8) |
79.0 (26.1) |
70.0 (21.1) |
88.8 (31.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 56.0 (13.3) |
59.0 (15.0) |
64.5 (18.1) |
70.0 (21.1) |
77.5 (25.3) |
85.0 (29.4) |
91.0 (32.8) |
92.0 (33.3) |
86.0 (30.0) |
75.0 (23.9) |
63.5 (17.5) |
55.0 (12.8) |
72.9 (22.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 41.0 (5.0) |
44.0 (6.7) |
49.0 (9.4) |
54.0 (12.2) |
60.0 (15.6) |
67.0 (19.4) |
75.0 (23.9) |
77.0 (25.0) |
70.0 (21.1) |
59.0 (15.0) |
48.0 (8.9) |
40.0 (4.4) |
57.0 (13.9) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.48 (12) |
0.55 (14) |
0.33 (8.4) |
0.05 (1.3) |
0.02 (0.51) |
0.00 (0.00) |
0.08 (2.0) |
0.21 (5.3) |
0.16 (4.1) |
0.25 (6.4) |
0.19 (4.8) |
0.48 (12) |
2.80 (71) |
| Source: Weather Channel[9] | |||||||||||||
History
[edit]The Imperial Valley Farm Lands Association founded the town as Date City in 1914.[4] The first post office at Calipatria opened in 1914.[4] Calipatria incorporated in 1919.[4]
Demographics
[edit]| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 785 | — | |
| 1930 | 1,554 | 98.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,799 | 15.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,428 | −20.6% | |
| 1960 | 2,548 | 78.4% | |
| 1970 | 1,824 | −28.4% | |
| 1980 | 2,636 | 44.5% | |
| 1990 | 2,690 | 2.0% | |
| 2000 | 7,289 | 171.0% | |
| 2010 | 7,705 | 5.7% | |
| 2020 | 6,515 | −15.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] | |||
2020
[edit]The 2020 United States census reported that Calipatria had a population of 6,515. The population density was 1,761.3 inhabitants per square mile (680.0/km2). The racial makeup of Calipatria was 18.4% White, 15.1% African American, 1.5% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 47.5% from other races, and 16.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 76.1% of the population.
The census reported that 55.4% of the population lived in households and 44.6% were institutionalized.
There were 1,034 households, out of which 50.9% included children under the age of 18, 46.0% were married-couple households, 8.2% were cohabiting couple households, 30.8% had a female householder with no partner present, and 15.0% had a male householder with no partner present. 13.7% of households were one person, and 5.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.49. There were 839 families (81.1% of all households).
The age distribution was 18.7% under the age of 18, 10.2% aged 18 to 24, 46.8% aged 25 to 44, 18.0% aged 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 250.1 males.
There were 1,116 housing units at an average density of 301.7 units per square mile (116.5 units/km2), of which 1,034 (92.7%) were occupied. Of these, 51.5% were owner-occupied, and 48.5% were occupied by renters.[11][12]
2023 estimates
[edit]In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 18.5% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 31.3% spoke only English at home, 68.5% spoke Spanish, 0.1% spoke other Indo-European languages, 0.1% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 0.1% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 59.8% were high school graduates and 3.4% had a bachelor's degree.[13]
The median household income was $52,672, and the per capita income was $10,640. About 17.3% of families and 25.2% of the population were below the poverty line.[14]
Politics
[edit]In the state legislature, Calipatria is in the 18th Senate District, represented by Democrat Steve Padilla,[15] and the 36th Assembly District, represented by Republican Jeff Gonzalez.[16]
Federally, Calipatria is in California's 25th congressional district, represented by Democrat Raul Ruiz.[17]
Infrastructure
[edit]Transportation
[edit]Freight rail service is provided by Union Pacific Railroad's Calexico Subdivision.
Utilities
[edit]Calipatria is served by Golden State Water Company,[18] Imperial Irrigation District, Southern California Gas, and Pacific Bell.[19]
Landmarks
[edit]Salvation Mountain is a notable tourist attraction in the north of Calipatria, near Slab City. Salvation Mountain is a small hill which is entirely covered in thousands of gallons of acrylic paint, straw, concrete, adobe. It was created by Leonard Knight to convey the message that "God Loves Everyone". Salvation Mountain was featured in the book Into the Wild and also in the 2007 movie of the same name. The video for Fourth of July, by Shooter Jennings, is partially set at Salvation Mountain.
Sister cities
[edit]
Brawley, California
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on November 3, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
- ^ a b "Calipatria". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ a b c d Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, California: Word Dancer Press. p. 1401. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Calipatria, California
- ^ "Home | City of Calipatria". Archived from the original on October 20, 2016. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ^ "History of Calipatria". Archived from the original on May 6, 2008. Retrieved November 30, 2007.
- ^ Climate Summary for Calipatria, California
- ^ "Calipatria, CA Monthly Weather Forecast". Weather Channel. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "Calipatria city, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
- ^ "Calipatria city, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
- ^ "Calipatria city, California; CP02: Comparative Social Characteristics in the United States - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
- ^ "Calipatria city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
- ^ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
- ^ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
- ^ "California's 25th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
- ^ "Calipatria".
- ^ "Utilities | City of Calipatria".
External links
[edit]
Municipalities and communities of Imperial County, California, United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Indian reservations | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |