1958 Map of El Centro

About this map

Imperial Valley's complex irrigation network is the centerpiece of this mid-century survey, showcasing a desert landscape transformed by the All American Canal and Coachella Canal. The map documents the intensive agricultural grid surrounding Brawley, Imperial, and El Centro, where gravity-fed water from the Colorado River meets the rich soils of the East Mesa. Beyond the cultivated fields, the terrain shifts abruptly to the arid Sand Hills and the mineral-rich Cargo Muchacho Mountains, home to historic operations like the Picacho Mine and American Girl Mine. Along the international border, the twin cities of Calexico and Mexicali anchor a region defined by geopolitical boundaries and massive military footprints, including the US Naval Impact Range and the sprawling Yuma Proving Grounds to the east.