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Imperial County is a county located in the far southeast of California, on the border with Arizona and Mexico, in the Imperial Valley. The 2000 population was 142,361. The county seat is El Centro.
History
Imperial County was formed in 1907 from eastern San Diego County, and is the youngest of all California counties.
The valley was named for the Imperial Land Company, a subsidiary of the California Development Company, which at the turn of the century had reclaimed the southern portion of the Colorado desert for agriculture.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 11,608 km² (4,482 mi²). 10,812 km² (4,175 mi²) of it is land and 795 km² (307 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 6.85% water.
The Colorado River forms the county's eastern boundary. Two unique geographic features are found in the county, the Salton Sea, at 235 feet below sea level, and the Imperial Sand Dunes, one of the largest dune fields in America.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 142,361 people, 39,384 households, and 31,467 families residing in the county. The population density is 13/km² (34/mi²). There are 43,891 housing units at an average density of 4/km² (10/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 49.37% White, 3.95% Black or African American, 1.87% Native American, 1.99% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 39.08% from other races, and 3.65% from two or more races. 72.22% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 39,384 households out of which 46.70% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% are married couples living together, 17.10% have a female householder with no husband present, and 20.10% are non-families. 17.10% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.10% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.33 and the average family size is 3.77.
In the county the population is spread out with 31.40% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 18.20% from 45 to 64, and 10.00% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 109.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 111.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $31,870, and the median income for a family is $35,226. Males have a median income of $32,775 versus $23,974 for females. The per capita income for the county is $13,239. 22.60% of the population and 19.40% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 28.70% of those under the age of 18 and 13.60% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities and towns
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