Calexico, California 2025

Calexico is a city in Imperial County, California, United States. The city's population was 38,572 at the 2020 census. It is part of the larger El Centro, CA metropolitan statistical area. Prior to 1875, Calexico was known as "Rockwood." The city was renamed Calexico in 1885.

Calexico, in southeastern California, is located near the Mexico–United States border. It is the most populous city in Imperial County and the interior of the Imperial Valley, the southeastern corner of California. The city is 122 miles (196 km) east of San Diego, 143 miles (230 km) southeast of El Centro, 235 miles (378 km) west of Phoenix, Arizona, and 257 miles (411 km) southeast of Yuma, Arizona.

Calexico has a warm desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh).

The cultural influences of Calexico are mainly Hispanic, due to the city's proximity to Mexico. With its sister city of Mexicali (and to a lesser extent the border city of San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora) and is also a major commercial and business centre for the small townships and settlements of both countries bordering Mexico.

The city of Calexico celebrates its annual Cinco de Mayo celebration along with the neighboring city of Mexicali. The event attracts thousands of visitors.

Local attractions in Calexico include the Calexico Area Museum, the Carmen J. Coleman Calexico Heritage Center, and the Rockwood Plaza.

Calexico offers Mexican restaurants and unique dishes particular to the region. The city has been able to maintain a unique blend of Anglo, Latin and Mexican cultures.

The racial makeup of the city was 49.4% White (14.9% non-Hispanic white), 4.3% was Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 1.3% Asian, and 41.3% from other races.

Calexico has a sister city:

* Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico

The history of Calexico dates back to the late 19th century. In 1875, a group of Mexican and American investors became interested in the possibility of developing an irrigation district in the region and began buying up land. The first post office at Calexico opened in 1885. The town was officially founded in 1888, and it incorporated as a city in 1908.