1957 Map of El Centro

About this map

Imperial and El Centro define the heart of the Imperial Valley in this mid-century portrait, revealing an engineered landscape where irrigation is king. The map documents an intricate network of water infrastructure, including the Lotus Canal, Dahlia Canal, and dozens of laterals like Date Lateral 10 and Eucalyptus Lateral 17 that sustain the desert agriculture. The urban centers are densely packed with civic and educational landmarks, from the Court House and Imperial Valley College to numerous neighborhood schools like Harding Sch and Wright Sch.