Calexico, California
Encyclopedia
Calexico is a city in Imperial County
, California
. The population was 38,572 at the 2010 census, up from 27,109 at the 2000 census. Calexico is about 122 miles (196.3 km) east of San Diego
and 62 miles (99.8 km) west of Yuma, Arizona
. The name “Calexico” is a portmanteau of California and Mexico
, which like that of its adjacent sister city of Mexicali
, emphasizes its importance as a border city.
Major events every year are the Mariachi
festival on March 25 followed by the SDSU "Perspective of the Latino Race" art exhibition on April 3.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, at the 2010 census, the city had a total area of 6.2 square miles (16.1 km²), all land.
Calexico is located 230 miles (370.1 km) southeast of Los Angeles
, 125 miles (201.2 km) east of San Diego, 260 miles (418.4 km) west of Phoenix
, and adjacent to Mexicali
, Baja California
, Mexico
.
Calexico's location provides easy overnight trucking access to all those transportation hubs plus the ports of Long Beach, California
, and Ensenada
, Baja California, Mexico.
Calexico's strategic location is seen by many as the prime link between the interior of Mexico and the major markets along the west coast of the U.S. and Canada
.
Calexico is served by State Routes 98, 7 and 111
, with direct connection to Interstate 8 (5 miles north) and State Route 86
. There are eighteen regular and irregular common carriers for intrastate and interstate truck service to Calexico.
Rail service is provided by Union Pacific Railroad
, and connects with the main line to Portland, Oregon
; Rock Island, Illinois
; Tucumcari, New Mexico
; St. Louis, Missouri
; and New Orleans, Louisiana
.
Within city limits is Calexico International Airport
, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection check-point for private passenger and air-cargo flights entering the U.S. from Mexico. Private charter services are also available there.
General aviation facilities and scheduled passenger and air-cargo service to Los Angeles International Airport
, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
, and other points are available at Imperial County Airport
(Boley Field), located 17 miles (27.4 km) north.
of the Imperial Land Company
and has grown into a large, thriving city on the U.S.-Mexico border. Calexico was founded in 1899 and incorporated in 1908. The Imperial Land Company converted bone-dry desert land into a fertile setting for year-round agriculture that provides an economic base. The originally proposed names were Santo Tomas or Thomasville.
Today, Calexico is said to hold the highest percentage of Latino
residents of any city in the U.S. (about 90%).
Although it gained a reputation for a while as a typical U.S.-Mexico bordertown with all the tawdry aspects usually associated with such places, the modern city of Calexico is a far cry from what it was back in those early days. Hundreds of acres are now being devoted to industrial parks, and commercial and retail incentives are being offered to encourage industrial development.
Since Calexico represents the mixing of two cultures and areas and because of its proximity to the Mexican border, the name Calexico was coined from a combination of the words California and Mexico. Mexicali
is a similarly named city directly across the international border from Calexico.
The first post office in Calexico opened in 1902.
was declared and officials cordoned off First and Second streets between Paulin and Heber Avenues. Glass and debris littered the streets of downtown Calexico and two buildings partially collapsed. The Calexico water treatment plant sustained severe damage.
form of government. The City Council consists of five Council Members, elected to overlapping four-year term. The Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem are chosen from among the five council members and rotate on an annual basis.
The Mayor presides at council meetings, where all official policies and laws of the City are enacted. The members of the Calexico City Council set policy and appoint commissions and committees that study the present and future needs of Calexico.
The other two elected officials in the City of Calexico are the City Clerk and City Treasurer. Each of them is elected directly by the voters and serves a four year term.
The Calexico branch of the Imperial County Superior Court system was officially renamed on Saturday, December 19, 1992 in honor of Legaspi family members Henry, Victor and Luis Legaspi as the Legaspi Municipal Court Complex.
was 4,596.7 people per square mile (1,774.8/km²). The racial makeup of Calexico was 23,150 (60.0%) White, 134 (0.3%) African American, 204 (0.5%) Native American, 504 (1.3%) Asian, 21 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 12,920 (33.5%) from other races
, and 1,639 (4.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 37,354 persons (96.8%).
The Census reported that 38,472 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 100 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 10,116 households, out of which 5,759 (56.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 5,767 (57.0%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 2,319 (22.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 595 (5.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 316 (3.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 61 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,200 households (11.9%) were made up of individuals and 675 (6.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.80. There were 8,681 families
(85.8% of all households); the average family size was 4.09.
The population was spread out with 12,011 people (31.1%) under the age of 18, 4,262 people (11.0%) aged 18 to 24, 9,332 people (24.2%) aged 25 to 44, 8,559 people (22.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 4,408 people (11.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.8 years. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.
There were 10,651 housing units at an average density of 1,269.3 per square mile (490.1/km²), of which 5,430 (53.7%) were owner-occupied, and 4,686 (46.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.1%. 22,155 people (57.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 16,317 people (42.3%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 27,109 people, 6,814 households, and 5,982 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,353.4 people per square mile (1,680.1/km²). There were 6,983 housing units at an average density of 1,121.4 per square mile (432.8/km²).
The racial makeup of the city was 4.6% White
, 0.5% Black
or African American
, 0.7% Native American
, 1.8% Asian
, <0.1% Pacific Islander
, 47.0% from other races
, and 3.5& from two or more races. With 95.3% of the population Hispanic
or Latino
(of any race), Calexico has one of the highest Hispanic/Latino percentages of any California city.
There were 6,814 households out of which 53.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples
living together, 22.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.2% were non-families. 10.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.0 and the average family size was 4.2.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.9% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males. The rate of teen pregnancy in the city is ranked third in the nation with 17.3% of females between the ages of 14 and 18 being pregnant.
The median income
for a household in the city was $28,929, and the median income for a family was $30,277. Males had a median income of $27,712 versus $18,857 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $9,981. About 22.6% of families and 25.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.8% of those under age 18 and 16.2% of those age 65 or over. The poverty rate in Calexico as a border city is above-average in the US, while in contrast Mexicali
is considered prosperous by Mexican standards.
Calexico is located in the 40th Senate
District, represented by Democrat
Juan Vargas
, and in the 80th Assembly
District, represented by Democrat Manuel Perez. Federally, Calexico is located in California's 51st congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of D +7 and is represented by Democrat Bob Filner
.
The current mayor is Luis Castro, and Mayor Pro Term Daniel Romero with council members: Maritza Hurtado, Bill Hodge, and John Moreno.
of San Diego State University
, and at Imperial Valley College
. In addition, there are more than 20 local agencies and programs providing vocational training which can be tailored to the specific needs of potential employers.
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
Willam Moreno Jr. High - Home of the Aztecs
Enrique Camarena Junior High School - Home of the Firebirds
[9]
De Anza 9th Grade Academy - Home of the Bullpups
Calexico High School - Home of the Bulldogs
Aurora High School - Home of the Eagles
Independent Studies Office
, a Seventh-day Adventist
Academy operated by the Southeastern California Conference in Riverside, CA provides private religious education in Calexico from K-12.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Academy (Home to the Bees), and Vincent Memorial Catholic High School
(Home to the Scots), Roman Catholic schools operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
, are also in Calexico.
Louis A. Fuentes - 101st Mayor, Appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Imperial County Board of Supervisors for District 1 Calexico. Chairman of the Board 2010
Imperial County, California
Imperial County is a county located in the Imperial Valley, in the far southeast of the U.S. state of California, bordering both Arizona and Mexico. It is part of the El Centro Metropolitan Area, which encompasses all of Imperial County. The population as of 2000 was 142,361. The county seat is the...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The population was 38,572 at the 2010 census, up from 27,109 at the 2000 census. Calexico is about 122 miles (196.3 km) east of San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
and 62 miles (99.8 km) west of Yuma, Arizona
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
. The name “Calexico” is a portmanteau of California and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, which like that of its adjacent sister city of Mexicali
Mexicali
Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
, emphasizes its importance as a border city.
Major events every year are the Mariachi
Mariachi
Mariachi is a genre of music that originated in the State of Jalisco, in Mexico. It is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the historical development of Western Mexico. Throughout the history of mariachi, musicians have experimented with brass, wind,...
festival on March 25 followed by the SDSU "Perspective of the Latino Race" art exhibition on April 3.
Geography
Calexico is located at 32°40′44"N 115°29′56"W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, at the 2010 census, the city had a total area of 6.2 square miles (16.1 km²), all land.
Calexico is located 230 miles (370.1 km) southeast of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, 125 miles (201.2 km) east of San Diego, 260 miles (418.4 km) west of Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, and adjacent to Mexicali
Mexicali
Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
, Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Calexico's location provides easy overnight trucking access to all those transportation hubs plus the ports of Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, and Ensenada
Ensenada, Baja California
Ensenada is a coastal city in Mexico and the third-largest city in Baja California. It is located south of San Diego on the Baja California Peninsula. The city is locally referred to as La Cenicienta del Pacífico, or, The Cinderella of the Pacific...
, Baja California, Mexico.
Calexico's strategic location is seen by many as the prime link between the interior of Mexico and the major markets along the west coast of the U.S. and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Calexico is served by State Routes 98, 7 and 111
California State Route 111
State Route 111 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. It is the main north/south state highway and retail corridor through the Coachella Valley, a part of the Colorado Desert in the southeastern corner of the state and famous as a resort destination...
, with direct connection to Interstate 8 (5 miles north) and State Route 86
California State Route 86
State Route 86 is a north–south state highway in the southeastern desert region of Southern California, United States. It runs from State Route 111, near the Mexican border crossing at Calexico, north through the Imperial Valley via El Centro and Brawley, and around the west side of the...
. There are eighteen regular and irregular common carriers for intrastate and interstate truck service to Calexico.
Rail service is provided by Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
, and connects with the main line to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
; Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
; Tucumcari, New Mexico
Tucumcari, New Mexico
Tucumcari is a city in and the county seat of Quay County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 5,989 at the 2000 census. Tucumcari was founded in 1901, two years before Quay County was founded.-History:...
; St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
; and New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
Within city limits is Calexico International Airport
Calexico International Airport
Calexico International Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located one mile west of the central business district of Calexico, in Imperial County, California, United States. The airport is mostly used for general aviation and to facilitate border crossing...
, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection check-point for private passenger and air-cargo flights entering the U.S. from Mexico. Private charter services are also available there.
General aviation facilities and scheduled passenger and air-cargo service to Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located southeast of the central business district of the city of Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States...
, and other points are available at Imperial County Airport
Imperial County Airport
Imperial County Airport , also known as Boley Field, is a public airport located partially in the city of Imperial and partially in an unincorporated area in Imperial County, California, United States. The airport is located 0.94 miles south of the central business district of Imperial. The...
(Boley Field), located 17 miles (27.4 km) north.
History
Calexico began as a tent cityTent City
A tent city is a temporary housing facility made using tents. Informal tent cities may be set up without authorization by homeless people or protesters. As well, state governments or military organizations set up tent cities to house refugees, evacuees, or soldiers...
of the Imperial Land Company
Imperial Land Company
The Imperial Land Company was a land colonization company incorporated in California in March, 1900 for the purpose of encouraging settlement of the Imperial Valley thus providing customers for the California Development Company...
and has grown into a large, thriving city on the U.S.-Mexico border. Calexico was founded in 1899 and incorporated in 1908. The Imperial Land Company converted bone-dry desert land into a fertile setting for year-round agriculture that provides an economic base. The originally proposed names were Santo Tomas or Thomasville.
Today, Calexico is said to hold the highest percentage of Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
residents of any city in the U.S. (about 90%).
Although it gained a reputation for a while as a typical U.S.-Mexico bordertown with all the tawdry aspects usually associated with such places, the modern city of Calexico is a far cry from what it was back in those early days. Hundreds of acres are now being devoted to industrial parks, and commercial and retail incentives are being offered to encourage industrial development.
Since Calexico represents the mixing of two cultures and areas and because of its proximity to the Mexican border, the name Calexico was coined from a combination of the words California and Mexico. Mexicali
Mexicali
Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
is a similarly named city directly across the international border from Calexico.
The first post office in Calexico opened in 1902.
2010 Earthquake
On April 4, 2010 the El Mayor earthquake caused moderate to heavy damage throughout Calexico and across the border in Mexicali. Measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale, the quake was centered about 40 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border near Mexicali. A state of emergencyState of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
was declared and officials cordoned off First and Second streets between Paulin and Heber Avenues. Glass and debris littered the streets of downtown Calexico and two buildings partially collapsed. The Calexico water treatment plant sustained severe damage.
Government
The City of Calexico operates under a City Council/City ManagerCouncil-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
form of government. The City Council consists of five Council Members, elected to overlapping four-year term. The Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem are chosen from among the five council members and rotate on an annual basis.
The Mayor presides at council meetings, where all official policies and laws of the City are enacted. The members of the Calexico City Council set policy and appoint commissions and committees that study the present and future needs of Calexico.
The other two elected officials in the City of Calexico are the City Clerk and City Treasurer. Each of them is elected directly by the voters and serves a four year term.
The Calexico branch of the Imperial County Superior Court system was officially renamed on Saturday, December 19, 1992 in honor of Legaspi family members Henry, Victor and Luis Legaspi as the Legaspi Municipal Court Complex.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Calexico had a population of 38,572. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,596.7 people per square mile (1,774.8/km²). The racial makeup of Calexico was 23,150 (60.0%) White, 134 (0.3%) African American, 204 (0.5%) Native American, 504 (1.3%) Asian, 21 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 12,920 (33.5%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1,639 (4.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 37,354 persons (96.8%).
The Census reported that 38,472 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 100 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 10,116 households, out of which 5,759 (56.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 5,767 (57.0%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 2,319 (22.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 595 (5.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 316 (3.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 61 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,200 households (11.9%) were made up of individuals and 675 (6.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.80. There were 8,681 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(85.8% of all households); the average family size was 4.09.
The population was spread out with 12,011 people (31.1%) under the age of 18, 4,262 people (11.0%) aged 18 to 24, 9,332 people (24.2%) aged 25 to 44, 8,559 people (22.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 4,408 people (11.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.8 years. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.
There were 10,651 housing units at an average density of 1,269.3 per square mile (490.1/km²), of which 5,430 (53.7%) were owner-occupied, and 4,686 (46.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.1%. 22,155 people (57.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 16,317 people (42.3%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 27,109 people, 6,814 households, and 5,982 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,353.4 people per square mile (1,680.1/km²). There were 6,983 housing units at an average density of 1,121.4 per square mile (432.8/km²).
The racial makeup of the city was 4.6% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.5% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.7% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.8% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, <0.1% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 47.0% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.5& from two or more races. With 95.3% of the population Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
(of any race), Calexico has one of the highest Hispanic/Latino percentages of any California city.
There were 6,814 households out of which 53.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 22.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.2% were non-families. 10.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.0 and the average family size was 4.2.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.9% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males. The rate of teen pregnancy in the city is ranked third in the nation with 17.3% of females between the ages of 14 and 18 being pregnant.
The median income
Income
Income is the consumption and savings opportunity gained by an entity within a specified time frame, which is generally expressed in monetary terms. However, for households and individuals, "income is the sum of all the wages, salaries, profits, interests payments, rents and other forms of earnings...
for a household in the city was $28,929, and the median income for a family was $30,277. Males had a median income of $27,712 versus $18,857 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $9,981. About 22.6% of families and 25.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.8% of those under age 18 and 16.2% of those age 65 or over. The poverty rate in Calexico as a border city is above-average in the US, while in contrast Mexicali
Mexicali
Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
is considered prosperous by Mexican standards.
Politics
In the state legislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
Calexico is located in the 40th Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Juan Vargas
Juan Vargas
Juan C. Vargas is a Senator in the State of California, 40th District. He is a Democrat and former member of the California State Assembly, San Diego City Council, and Order of the Jesuits, having fought for the poor, aged, and infirmed....
, and in the 80th Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Democrat Manuel Perez. Federally, Calexico is located in California's 51st congressional district
California's 51st congressional district
California's 51st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California. The district includes all of Imperial County and the extreme southern portions of San Diego County that run across the U.S.-Mexico border...
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of D +7 and is represented by Democrat Bob Filner
Bob Filner
Robert Earl Filner is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 50th, serving since 1993, and Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
.
The current mayor is Luis Castro, and Mayor Pro Term Daniel Romero with council members: Maritza Hurtado, Bill Hodge, and John Moreno.
Colleges and universities
Post-secondary education is available at the San Diego State University Imperial Valley CampusSan Diego State University Imperial Valley Campus
The Imperial Valley Campus is a satellite campus of San Diego State University in Calexico, California, near the U.S.-Mexico border.Established in 1959 by act of the state legislature, it serves residents of California's Imperial County...
of San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
, and at Imperial Valley College
Imperial Valley College
Imperial Valley College is a college in Imperial County, California, USA. Founded in 1962 the college currently enrolls around 7,000 students per year. Currently, Ed Gould is President of the college. The main campus is located on a site in the city of Imperial...
. In addition, there are more than 20 local agencies and programs providing vocational training which can be tailored to the specific needs of potential employers.
Elementary
[K-6]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
[7-8]Willam Moreno Jr. High - Home of the Aztecs
Enrique Camarena Junior High School - Home of the Firebirds
[9]
De Anza 9th Grade Academy - Home of the Bullpups
Secondary schools
[10-12]Calexico High School - Home of the Bulldogs
Aurora High School - Home of the Eagles
Adult education schools
Robert F. Morales Adult Education CenterIndependent Studies Office
Private schools
Calexico Mission SchoolCalexico Mission School
Calexico Mission Academy is a school under the control of the Southeastern California Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is located in the sunny town of Calexico, CA, USA, and has just over 500 students in the K-12 levels, most of whom are from the neighbouring city of Mexicali,...
, a Seventh-day Adventist
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
Academy operated by the Southeastern California Conference in Riverside, CA provides private religious education in Calexico from K-12.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Academy (Home to the Bees), and Vincent Memorial Catholic High School
Vincent Memorial Catholic High School
Vincent Memorial Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Calexico, California. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego The school serves approximately 300 students.-Background:...
(Home to the Scots), Roman Catholic schools operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the western region of the United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes all of San Diego and Imperial Counties in Southern California, with a Catholic population of 1,981,057...
, are also in Calexico.
Notable people
- Anita Álvarez de WilliamsAnita Álvarez de WilliamsAnita Álvarez de Williams is a Anthropologist, photographer and historian.Her work has been of great importance to understand the past of Baja California and the borderlands area. She has published "The Cocopah People" , "Travelers among the Cucapa" , and "Primeros pobladores de la Baja California...
- anthropologist and photographer - Dan NavarroDan NavarroDan Navarro is an American vocalist, guitarist and voice actor best known as half of the duo Lowen & Navarro-Discography:Lowen and Navarro*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Benatar#cite_note-0 We Belong]Lowen and Navarro...
- singer/songwriter - Enrique CastilloEnrique CastilloEnrique Castillo is an American actor, writer, director, and producer.- Life and career :Castillo was a founding member of The Latino Theater Company. He co-wrote the company’s plays Stone Wedding and August 29...
- actor - Enrique CamarenaEnrique CamarenaEnrique "Kiki" Camarena Salazar Enrique "Kiki" Camarena Salazar Enrique "Kiki" Camarena Salazar (Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico July 26, 1947 - c. (Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, February 9, 1985) was an undercover agent for the United States Drug Enforcement Administration who was abducted on...
-DEA Agent - Mariano-Florentino CuéllarMariano-Florentino CuéllarMariano-Florentino "Tino" Cuéllar is an American lawyer, academic, and former official in the Clinton and Obama administrations. He is an expert in administrative law, international security, and the law of public health and safety. He is currently Professor and Deane F...
- President Obama's Advisor on Immigration policy during the campaign and the transition, an attorney and professor of law at Stanford University. - Emilio DelgadoEmilio DelgadoEmilio Delgado is an American actor. He is best known for his long-running role as Luis, the friendly Fix-it Shop owner, on the children's television series Sesame Street. Delgado joined the cast of Sesame Street in 1971 and recently completed Season 41 with the show. He began his professional...
- actor - Bob HuffBob HuffRobert S. Huff is a U.S. politician, who is a Republican member of the California State Senate, representing the 29th Senate District, which includes portions of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties...
- California senator - Takashi KijimaTakashi KijimaKijima was born in Calexico, California on 24 December 1920, the son of a Mr Watanabe, a shoe manufacturer who had immigrated in 1905, and his wife Sei . The boy's name as a US citizen was Ryu Watanabe...
- photographer - Ruben NieblaRuben NieblaRuben O. Niebla , is a former professional baseball player and current assistant to the major-league staff of the Cleveland Indians....
- baseball player - Allen StrangeAllen StrangeAllen Strange was an American composer. He authored two books, Electronic Music: Systems, Techniques, and Controls and Programming and Meta-Programming the Electro-Organism...
- composer - Eugenio Elorduy WaltherEugenio Elorduy WaltherEugenio Elorduy Walther is a Mexican politician and governor of his adoptive state of Baja California from November 1, 2001 thru October 31, 2007. His wife Elena Blackaller serves as first lady.-Biography:...
- Governor of Baja CaliforniaBaja CaliforniaBaja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North... - Bob WilsonBob Wilson (US politician)Robert Carlton "Bob" Wilson was an American politician. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives. He was a member of the Republican Party.-Biography:...
- US Congressman - Isaac AcuñaIsaac AcuñaIsaac Acuña Sánchez is a Mexican-American soccer player who currently plays for América.-Club América:...
- soccer player (Club America)
Louis A. Fuentes - 101st Mayor, Appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Imperial County Board of Supervisors for District 1 Calexico. Chairman of the Board 2010
In popular culture
- Curtis HansonCurtis HansonCurtis Lee Hanson is an American film director, film producer and screenwriter. His directing work includes The Hand That Rocks the Cradle , L.A...
's Losin' ItLosin' ItLosin' It is a 1983 comedy film starring Tom Cruise, Shelley Long, Jackie Earle Haley, and John Stockwell. The film is directed by Curtis Hanson. It was filmed largely in Calexico, California.-Plot summary:...
was filmed in Calexico. - The band Calexico is named after the town.
- A narcotics officer in Michael ConnellyMichael ConnellyMichael Connelly is an American author of detective novels and other crime fiction, notably those featuring LAPD Detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch and criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller. His books, which have been translated into 36 languages, have garnered him many awards...
's The Black IceThe Black IceThe Black Ice is the second novel by American crime author Michael Connelly, featuring the Los Angeles detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch.In the book, narcotics officer Calexico Moore's body is discovered Christmas night in a seedy Hollywood motel, an apparent suicide. As the L.A...
is named after the town.