Calexico, California facts for kids
Calexico is a city in southern Imperial County, California. It's right on the border with Mexico, next to a bigger city called Mexicali. Mexicali is the capital of Baja California, a state in Mexico. Calexico is about 122 miles (196 km) east of San Diego and 62 miles (100 km) west of Yuma, Arizona.
It's part of a bigger area called the Imperial Valley, which includes six other cities in Imperial County. Europeans first explored this area in the 1700s. Calexico started as a small community of tents and became an official city in 1908.
Quick facts for kids
Calexico, California
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| City of Calexico | |||
  Top: City Hall; Bottom: Hotel de Anza
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| Nicknames:
The International Gateway City
Where California and Mexico Meet |
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Location of Calexico in Imperial County, California
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 Calexico, California
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | California | ||
| County | Imperial | ||
| Incorporated | April 16, 1908 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Council–manager government | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 8.62 sq mi (22.32 km2) | ||
| • Land | 8.62 sq mi (22.32 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) 0% | ||
| Elevation | 3 ft (0.9 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 38,633 | ||
| • Density | 4,482.31/sq mi (1,730.53/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−8 (PST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) | ||
| ZIP Codes |
92231–92232
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| Area code(s) | 760/442 | ||
| FIPS code | 06-09710 | ||
| GNIS feature IDs | 1652680, 2409958 | ||
Contents
What Does the Name Calexico Mean?
The name Calexico is a mix of two words: California and Mexico. It's a "portmanteau," which means combining parts of two words to make a new one. The city of Mexicali, right across the border, has a similar name, mixing "Mexico" and "California."
A Brief Look at Calexico's History
Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza traveled through this area between 1775 and 1776. This was when Spain ruled the land. The path he took through Calexico is now a historical route in California.
How Calexico Was Started
Calexico began as a small community of tents set up by the Imperial Land Company in 1899. This company helped turn the desert land into rich farmland for growing crops all year. Calexico officially became a city in 1908. The first post office opened here in 1902.
The 2010 Earthquake
On April 4, 2010, a strong earthquake hit the area. It was called the El Mayor earthquake. It caused a lot of damage in Calexico and in Mexicali, Mexico. The earthquake was a 7.2 magnitude quake. Its center was about 40 miles (64 km) south of the U.S.–Mexico border.
After the quake, a state of emergency was announced. Officials closed off some streets in downtown Calexico. Glass and broken pieces were everywhere. Two buildings partly fell down. The city's water treatment plant was also badly damaged.
Where is Calexico Located?
Calexico is about 230 miles (370 km) southeast of Los Angeles. It is 125 miles (201 km) east of San Diego. It is also 260 miles (418 km) west of Phoenix. The city is right next to Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.
Getting Around Calexico
Calexico's location makes it easy for trucks to reach major transportation centers. These include the ports of Long Beach, California and Ensenada, Mexico.
State Routes 98, 7, and 111 serve Calexico. These roads connect directly to Interstate 8, which is 5 miles (8 km) north. Many trucking companies offer services to Calexico.
Union Pacific Railroad provides train service. It connects Calexico to major cities like Portland, Oregon and St. Louis, Missouri.
The Calexico International Airport is within the city limits. It is a checkpoint for private flights entering the U.S. from Mexico. You can also find private charter services there.
For bigger flights, the Imperial County Airport (Boley Field) is 17 miles (27 km) north. It offers flights to San Diego International Airport and other places.
Calexico's Weather
Calexico has a hot desert climate. This means it gets very hot and dry. In December 1932, it even snowed, which is very rare! Most rain falls in winter, in December, January, and February.
Summers are extremely dry. But sometimes, there are thunderstorms in July and August. In 2008, some heavy thunderstorms brought a lot of rain and even hail. The city gets a lot of sunshine all year long.
| Climate data for Calexico, California | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 90 (32) |
93 (34) |
101 (38) |
109 (43) |
116 (47) |
121 (49) |
122 (50) |
120 (49) |
120 (49) |
112 (44) |
98 (37) |
95 (35) |
122 (50) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 70 (21) |
75 (24) |
79 (26) |
86 (30) |
94 (34) |
103 (39) |
107 (42) |
106 (41) |
101 (38) |
91 (33) |
78 (26) |
70 (21) |
88 (31) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 41 (5) |
45 (7) |
49 (9) |
54 (12) |
61 (16) |
68 (20) |
76 (24) |
77 (25) |
71 (22) |
59 (15) |
47 (8) |
41 (5) |
57 (14) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 18 (−8) |
24 (−4) |
29 (−2) |
34 (1) |
36 (2) |
47 (8) |
52 (11) |
54 (12) |
48 (9) |
33 (1) |
24 (−4) |
22 (−6) |
18 (−8) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.51 (13) |
0.36 (9.1) |
0.31 (7.9) |
0.05 (1.3) |
0.03 (0.76) |
0.01 (0.25) |
0.06 (1.5) |
0.32 (8.1) |
0.36 (9.1) |
0.35 (8.9) |
0.17 (4.3) |
0.43 (11) |
2.96 (75.21) |
How Many People Live in Calexico?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 797 | — | |
| 1920 | 6,223 | 680.8% | |
| 1930 | 6,299 | 1.2% | |
| 1940 | 5,415 | −14.0% | |
| 1950 | 6,433 | 18.8% | |
| 1960 | 7,992 | 24.2% | |
| 1970 | 10,625 | 32.9% | |
| 1980 | 14,412 | 35.6% | |
| 1990 | 18,633 | 29.3% | |
| 2000 | 27,109 | 45.5% | |
| 2010 | 38,572 | 42.3% | |
| 2020 | 38,633 | 0.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The 2010 U.S. Census reported that Calexico had 38,572 people. Most of the people living in Calexico are of Hispanic or Latino background. About 31% of the population is under 18 years old. The average age in the city is about 31.8 years.
Schools and Learning in Calexico
Colleges and Universities
For education after high school, students can go to the Imperial Valley Campus of San Diego State University. There's also Imperial Valley College, which is about 11 miles (18 km) north. Many local groups also offer job training programs.
Public Schools
The Calexico Unified School District serves students in the city. Calexico has:
- 7 elementary schools
- 2 junior high schools
- 2 high schools
Elementary Schools
- Kennedy Gardens Elementary – Home of the Eagles
- Allen and Helen Mains Elementary – Home of the Trojans
- Rockwood Elementary – Home of the Rockets
- Blanche Charles Elementary – Home of the Dolphins
- Jefferson Elementary – Home of the Tigers
- Dool Elementary – Home of the Cougars
- Cesar Chavez Elementary – Home of the Lobos
Junior High Schools (Grades 7–8)
- Willam Moreno Jr. High – Home of the Aztecs
- Enrique Camarena Junior High School – Home of the Firebirds
High Schools (Grades 9–12)
- Calexico High School 9th Campus - Home of the Bulldogs
- Calexico High School – Home of the Bulldogs (10th-12th)
- Aurora High School – Home of the Eagles
Public Charter School (Independent Study)
- RAI Online Charter School—raicharter.net (for grades K–12, with no tuition fees)
Adult Education Schools
- Robert F. Morales Adult Education Center
- Independent Studies Office
Private Schools
Calexico Mission School is a private school run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It teaches students from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
There are also two Roman Catholic schools in Calexico:
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Academy (Home to the Bees)
- Vincent Memorial Catholic High School (Home to the Scots)
Important Places in Calexico
Calexico is part of the larger Imperial Valley region. Here are some notable sites:
- Hotel De Anza - A historic hotel that has hosted famous people.
- Calexico Carnegie Library - A library built in 1918. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
- US Inspection Station – Calexico - This was the original entry point into the U.S. in the early 1900s. It is now a historic site.
- Camp Salvation - This was a camp set up in 1849 for people traveling during the California Gold Rush. It is now a California Historical Landmark.
- Mount Signal Solar - One of the biggest solar farms in the world.
Sister City
Calexico has a sister city:
Famous People From Calexico
- Isaac Acuña (b. 1989) – soccer player
- Enrique Castillo (b. 1949) – actor and writer
- Emilio Delgado (1940–2022) – actor
- Bob Huff (b. 1953) – California State Senate member
- Dan Navarro (b. 1952) – singer and voice actor
- Ruben Niebla (b. 1971) – baseball player and coach
- Danny Villanueva (1937–2015) – football player and co-founder of Univision
Images for kids
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Bankers and the Railroad Men's Party in early Calexico
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Calexico City hall and SDSU-Imperial Valley Campus Aerial
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Bird's-eye view of Calexico during the early 20th century
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Camp Salvation, Calexico
See also
In Spanish: Calexico (California) para niños
