Dixieland, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dixieland
Unincorporated community
Dixieland was a stop on the San Diego and Arizona Railroad c. 1915
Dixieland Location in California Show map of California Dixieland Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	Imperial County
Elevation	-36 ft (-11 m)

Dixieland is a small, quiet place in Imperial County, California. It's called an "unincorporated community," which means it's not a city or town with its own local government. Instead, it's part of the larger county.

Dixieland is about 5 miles (8 km) east of Plaster City, right on County Route S80. It's also quite low down, about 36 feet (11 meters) below sea level! The name 'Dixieland' probably came from the Pima cotton fields that used to grow there. Pima cotton is a special type of cotton, and 'Dixie' is a nickname for the southern United States, where cotton farming was very common.

Discovering Dixieland's Past

Dixieland has a bit of history, even though it's a small place today. Long ago, in the 1700s, a Spanish explorer named Juan Bautista de Anza traveled through this area.

Early Explorations and Water Sources

During his first trip into California, Juan Bautista de Anza found some important water sources about 6 miles (10 km) southwest of where Dixieland is now. These were called "Las Pozas de Santa Rosa de las Lajas," which means "the Wells of Saint Rose of the Flat Rocks." These wells were very important for travelers in the desert.

Connecting Dixieland: Bridges and Trains

Before 1912, there was a wagon bridge near Dixieland. This bridge helped people and wagons cross over difficult terrain. In 1912, a special train line called the Holton interurban, which came from El Centro, started stopping at Dixieland. This made it easier for people to travel to and from the community.

This real estate ad from 1912 shows how Dixieland was being developed.

Dixieland's Post Office

For many years, Dixieland had its own post office. It opened in 1912 and served the community until 1935. This was an important service for people living in the area, allowing them to send and receive mail.