1961 Map of El Centro

About this map

The Imperial Valley dominates this 1961 landscape, revealing an intricate network of irrigation infrastructure including the All American Canal, Coachella Canal, and East Highline Canal. These water systems, alongside the New River and Alamo River, transformed the desert into a productive agricultural hub centered on El Centro, Brawley, and Calexico. The era is defined by massive military footprints, from the Yuma Test Station and Williams Bombing and Gunnery Range to the vast U.S. Naval Impact Range situated within the shifting Sand Hills. Beyond the fields, the map traces the Southern Pacific railroad lines and the route of U.S. 80, connecting isolated stops like Plaster City and Ogilby. Local history details include the Imperial County Tuberculosis Sanatorium and mining operations such as the Castle Dome Mine in the Castle Dome Mountains.