"This land has a peculiar charm in the rich atmospheric tints that hung and the boundless wastes that lay outspread."
Best-selling author John Ross Browne (1871)
Since Browne made his early travel notes, the Imperial Valley has changed significantly, not least because of the water diverted into it from the Colorado
"This land has a peculiar charm in the rich atmospheric tints that hung and the boundless wastes that lay outspread."
Best-selling author John Ross Browne (1871)
Since Browne made his early travel notes, the Imperial Valley has changed significantly, not least because of the water diverted into it from the Colorado. The internationally renowned engineer George Chaffey formed the Imperial Land Company, which undertook this extensive irrigation project and meant that ultimately the valley could be settled. As well as the cities of Imperial and Calexico, the towns of Brawley and Heber were founded as a result of the early twentieth century development. Today, the recreation facilities close to Imperial transform the desert into a popular tourist destination. The city is well served by the nearby Imperial County Airport, which offers frequent scheduled services to both Burbank and San Diego. Imperial covers an area of just under six square miles and it lies only about a twenty minute drive to the international border. You won't be surprised to learn that, because of its location so far south, the city enjoys a hot and desert-like climate.
There are approaching 15,000 people that live in Imperial. The range of city apartments to choose from is good. You can find a one bedroom apartment for rent in Imperial in the center of the city close to North Imperial Avenue without too much of a problem. Many of these will be apartments with paid utilities, making it easy for you to plan your outgoings in advance. In the areas farther from the center there is, generally speaking, more space and you are more likely to find a duplex for rent than an apartment. Many of the suburban residential streets in these neighborhoods are surprisingly green given the local climate. Some streets are leafy and tree-lined. Expect more palm trees than anything else. If you are looking for a new home in the city, then a good base is the Rodeway Inn, situated at the airport just off North Imperial Avenue. From here, it is easy to navigate your way around the city. The best time of year to search is mid-winter when the temperatures are at their lowest. During the summer, highs of over 110 degrees are not uncommon, making searching for apartments thirsty work indeed, unless you are the sort of person who worships the sun's rays. It is always advisable to check whether any apartment homes you might want to visit have air-conditioning units installed, because for anyone relocating from a more northerly location in America, these can be essential even in fall and spring, let alone July and August.
Imperial is laid out in a regular grid formation. North Imperial Avenue, which runs north-south through the city, splits it into two halves (with the airport located on the western side). The two major east-west roads are West Aten Road to the south and West Worthington Road to the north. Heading north, it takes only about 15 minutes by car to reach Brawley. The southern part of Imperial meets northern El Centro with a central drain marking the boundary between the two cities. It only takes about ten minutes to reach downtown El Centro.
Western Imperial: The area to the south of western Imperial has plenty of rental condos. Try looking in the popular area close to Joshua Tree Park, south of West Aten Road, or the area around Oasis Street to the west of the airport. Closer to North Imperial Avenue, the residences have a slightly higher density and you are more likely to find two bedroom apartments around here.
Eastern Imperial: Okay, so the truth is that the part of Imperial that lies on the other side of North Imperial Avenue, or State Highway 86, is much the same in terms of its housing as what you find on the west. Located close to the Rodeway Inn, you can find The California Mid-Winter Fairgrounds. These fairgrounds are in the heart of the city and are home to a series of events during the year, such as festivals, community barbecues, car races and concerts. There are a number of popular residential neighborhoods located in the east. Check out the one is centered around Sunset Park and the other which is around Paseo Del Sol Park, beyond the railroad.
Probably the area of Imperial best described as downtown is the part closest to the intersection between North Imperial Avenue and Worthington Road. There's a superbly equipped and wonderfully named Eager Park close by, just to the north of Imperial's public library on West 9th Street. There are also a number of good eateries in the area. Try El Zarape or Johnny's Burritos, both on North Imperial Avenue for a flavour of the region. Rolberto's -- just on the other side of the street also offers Mexican cuisine, but it would be mistake to think that is all you can get in the city. For something a little different, try Kotori Wok, which is opposite the Post Office. Further south in the city you can find a cinema, simply named Movies Imperial, and if you want to try something a little more energetic than watching a film, there are two decently equipped gyms to choose from. One is found on East Aten Road and the other on Crown Court.
It is worth remembering that The Imperial is a part of a wider community. The Desert Southwest community encompasses settlements and cities that include Calexico, Heber, Brawley, Holtville, Calipatria, El Centro and Imperial. For many residents, it is this larger community that makes Imperial, which is centrally located within it, so attractive. Although Imperial has shops, it does not have its own mall. Nevertheless, this is hardly a problem when you consider that there are two good ones in El Centro, both of which are only a few minutes away. In the winter, you can expect Imperial Valley's population to swell a little, as there is usually an influx of people on vacation seeking some of the welcome winter sun. Many of these visitors use RV parks and don't settle for long, so they tend not to push up the cost of city apartments.
