Imperial
Imperial is a city in Southern California.
Understand
Imperial is a small community in Imperial Valley with a population of 14,758 according to the 2010 US Census. It is known in the area to be a bedroom community as most residents work outside of Imperial. The City experienced tremendous growth during the 2000s, ranking in the top five of the fastest growing cities in California. As a result close to sixty percent of the housing was built after 1990 mostly consisting of single family housing common in large residential subdivisions across California. El Centro is just south of Imperial and serves as the commercial destination for Imperial residents.
Get in
By car
Highway 86 bisects the city and connects Imperial to Brawley (10 miles north) and El Centro to the south. Highway 86 also provides access to the Palm Springs area and Los Angeles. Other major routes include I-8 connecting the area to San Diego in the west and Yuma to the east.
By plane
Imperial County Airport. (IPL IATA) operates as a general avaition airport with limited commercial flights from Los Angeles and Phoenix on Southern Airways/Mokulele. It may be cheaper to fly into San Diego International Airport (SAN IATA) and then rent a car or take a Greyhound bus to get to El Centro. From Mexico the nearest airport for commercial flights is in Mexicali (MXL IATA)
By bus
The nearest Greyhound station is located in El Centro to the south.
Get around
Imperial Valley Transit has several bus routes that connect passengers to the neighboring cities, however routes are not designed to be used to effectively travel within the Imperial.
See
If you want to take a fulfilling drive, drive through the Anza-Borrego State Park, located around 70 miles from Imperial. There, you will see the desert life. Anza-Borrego is full of beautiful colorful flowers and lovely wildlife. Rattlesnakes are known to survive there so take precautions.
Pioneers Memorial Museum is another place to see. Pioneers Memorial Museum is full of old artifacts found around the Imperial Valley and see how the Imperial Valley became as it is today.
Do
- California Mid-Winter Fair. In early March; showcase for local agriculture and ranching, as well as the usual "fun zone".
Buy
The Imperial Valley Mall, located about 20 miles south of Imperial, is an excellent way to shop. Holding many well-known shops and brands there (such as PacSun, Hollister, American Eagle, etc.), the Imperial Valley Mall is well known by locals and is visited often.
Eat
There are a few restaurants in Imperial, and one fast food drive-thru. They are all low-priced and worth it.
Drink
There are no bars in Imperial.
Sleep
Travel into El Centro for excellent hotels.
Go next
| Routes through Imperial |
| Indio ← Brawley ← | N S | → El Centro → END |
| Palm Springs ← Brawley ← | N S | → El Centro → Calexico |