El Centro
City in Imperial County, California
El Centro is a city in Imperial County, California, with 44,322 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 39 ft (12 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Imperial, 3.7 miles N.
- 44,322residents (2020 Census)
- 39 ftelevation · 12 m
- 12.1 sq miland area · 31.4 km²
- 3,658 / sq mipopulation density
- 92243ZIP code
About El Centro
El Centro (Spanish for "The Center") is a city in and the county seat of Imperial County, California, United States. El Centro is the most populous city in the Imperial Valley, the east anchor of the Southern California Border Region, and the core urban area and principal city of the El Centro metropolitan area which encompasses all of Imperial County. El Centro is also the most populous U.S. city to lie entirely below sea level (−42 feet or −13 meters). The city, located in southeastern California, is 113 miles (182 km) from San Diego and less than 20 miles (32 km) from the Mexican city of Mexicali.
The city was founded in 1906 by W. F. Holt and C.A. Barker, who purchased the land on which El Centro was eventually built for about $40 per acre ($100 per hectare) and invested $100,000 ($3,600,000 in 2025 dollars) in improvements. The modern city is home to retail, transportation, wholesale, and agricultural industries. There are also two international border crossings nearby for commercial and noncommercial vehicles. El Centro's census population as of 2020 was 44,322, up from 42,598 at the 2010 census.
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
El Centro weather: 7-day forecast
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Living in El Centro
- Median household income
- $53,082
- Median home value
- $323,100
- Median rent
- $1,052/mo
- Median age
- 31
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Map of El Centro
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Open in Google Maps ›El Centro, CA population
El Centro had 44,322 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 44,322 |
|---|---|
| Density | 3,658 per sq mi (1,412 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
El Centro at a glance
| State | California (CA) |
|---|---|
| County | Imperial County |
| Type | City |
| Population | 44,322 (2020) |
| Land area | 12.12 sq mi (31.4 km²) |
| Water area | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km²) |
| Elevation | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Coordinates | 32.7864° N, 115.5602° W |
| ZIP code | 92243 |
| Official website | cityofelcentro.org |
| Census code (GEOID) | 0621782 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near El Centro
- Imperial3.7 mi N
- Heber4.1 mi SE
- El Centro Naval Air Facility6.8 mi NW
- Seeley7.2 mi W
- Calexico8.0 mi SE
- Holtville10.7 mi E
- Brawley13.4 mi N
- Westmorland17.8 mi N
- Ocotillo25.8 mi W
- Calipatria26.8 mi N
- Niland31.4 mi N
- Jacumba38.1 mi W
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about El Centro
What county is El Centro in?
El Centro is in Imperial County, California.
What is the population of El Centro, CA?
44,322 people lived in El Centro at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of El Centro, CA?
The ZIP code of El Centro is 92243.
What is the elevation of El Centro?
39 feet (12 m) above sea level.
What towns are near El Centro?
Imperial (3.7 mi), Heber (4.1 mi), El Centro Naval Air Facility (6.8 mi), Seeley (7.2 mi), Calexico (8.0 mi).
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