1957 Map of El Centro

About this map

The dense agricultural grid of the Imperial Valley defines this landscape, where the neighboring cities of Imperial and El Centro thrive in one of the nation's most productive desert farming regions. A complex web of irrigation infrastructure, including the Central Canal, Dahlia Canal, and Dogwood Canal, sustains the local economy. The southern portion of the sheet shows the urban expansion of El Centro around the Court House and Imperial Valley College, while the rail corridor of the Southern Pacific and the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railroad facilitates the movement of local goods. Evidence of the valley's industrial roots is found at the Cotton Gin and several scattered labor camps. Notable civic landmarks include the Imperial County Airport, the Fairgrounds, and numerous local schools such as Wright Sch and Central Union H S.