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El Centro, California

Located in Imperial County, California, El Centro was established in 1906. One of the hottest cities in the U.S. — regularly over 110°F. Below sea level in the Imperial Valley.
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Founded 1906 | Population 45,000 | Peak 45,000 (2024) | County Imperial County

Top 10 Most Important Events for El Centro, California

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1885 Railroad Era: Railroad connections spurred growth and commerce in El Centro.
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1906 Founded: Imperial Valley center.
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1908 Incorporated: El Centro was officially incorporated as a city.
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2010 Modern Era: El Centro continued to develop as part of the region, with new infrastructure and community amenities.
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Latest News in El Centro

Apr 11, 2026
Sexual Assault Probe and Staff Revolt Threaten to End Congressman’s California Gubernatorial Bid
Rep. Eric Swalwell’s once-promising campaign for California governor has unraveled with breathtaking speed. In little more than …
Apr 10, 2026
Pattern of Deaths and Disappearances Among U.S. Scientists Sparks Calls for Federal Scrutiny
The quiet death of a veteran NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist in 2023 has resurfaced amid a string of unexplained fataliti…
Mar 22, 2026
Parolee with Prior Double-Murder Conviction Sentenced to Life Without Parole in Killing of South Los Angeles Woman
LOS ANGELES—A man previously convicted of two murders in 1998 was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole …
Mar 16, 2026
Study: Cannabis Ineffective for Most Mental Disorders
A major review of past studies has delivered a clear verdict on the role of cannabis-based medicines in treating mental health and…
Mar 16, 2026
Investigator Exposes $170M Fraud in California
Investigator Nick Shirley has brought to light a massive $170 million fraud scheme operating within California, representing a sig…
Mar 15, 2026
NYPD Captain Arrested for Assaulting Alleged Child Predator
NYPD Captain Kai Bowen is now facing serious legal repercussions following an off-duty incident that escalated into violence. Repo…

Complete Historical Timeline

1885 Transport
Railroad Era
1906 Culture
Founded
1908 Government
Incorporated
2010 Culture
Modern Era

Did You Know?

1
One of the hottest cities in the U.S. — regularly over 110°F.
2
Below sea level in the Imperial Valley.
3
Near the Mexican border — Mexicali is just across.
4
El Centro is located in Imperial County, California.
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El Centro was founded in 1906.

Famous People from El Centro, California

C
Cher
Actor, Singer · Born May 20, 1946 · Age 79
KH
Ken Howard
Actor, Stage Actor · Born Mar 28, 1944 · Died Mar 23, 2016 (age 71)
DC
Dino Cazares
Composer, Record Producer · Born Sep 2, 1966 · Age 59
SB
Sean Bennett
Sport Cyclist · Born Mar 31, 1996 · Age 29
AG
Angélica Gavaldón
Tennis Player · Born Oct 3, 1973 · Age 52

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