California

Imperial

179,702
2020 population
1910
first census record
12
census records

About Imperial

Imperial, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1910, when it recorded a population of 13,591. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 179,702.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Cocopah Conflict — Colorado River Delta (1852), and 10 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020179,702
2010174,528
2000142,361
1990109,303
198092,110
197074,492
196072,105
195062,975
194059,740
193060,903
192043,453
191013,591
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Imperial

Military engagements that took place in Imperial, California.

Cocopah Conflict — Colorado River Delta (1852)
1852

Historic places in Imperial

National Register of Historic Places listings in Imperial, California.

US Post Office-El Centro Main
El Centro
Desert View Tower
Ocotillo
US Inspection Station-Calexico
Calexico
Calexico Carnegie Library
Calexico
Browse all Californiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in California

Explore census history and historic records for more California counties.

San BernardinoSan DiegoSan FranciscoSan JoaquinSan Luis ObispoSan MateoSanta BarbaraSanta ClaraSanta CruzShastaSierraSiskiyouSolanoSonomaStanislausSutterTehamaTrinityTulareTuolumne
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Everything a full report reveals about Imperial County, California

This page charts the census history of Imperial County, California. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Imperial

When does Imperial first appear in the US census?
Imperial, California first appears in the federal census in 1910, with a recorded population of 13,591.
What is the population of Imperial?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Imperial had a recorded population of 179,702.
Were any battles fought in Imperial?
1 documented military engagement took place in Imperial, including Cocopah Conflict — Colorado River Delta (1852).
How many historic places are in Imperial?
10 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Imperial, California.
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