El Centro, California

About El Centro

Set in the southeastern part of California, El Centro is a thriving city, home to 44,230 residents as of the latest Census estimates.

El Centro holds the status of an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 12.12 square miles, giving it a compact, walkable footprint at roughly 3,649 residents per square mile.

📰 El Centro News Today

• Imperial Valley recovers after powerful summer thunderstorm leaves widespread damage and outages Imperial Valley Press Online · Aug 14
• What is the unemployment rate in the El Centro, CA area right now? USAFacts · Jul 29
• How gas prices have changed in El Centro in the last week stacker.com · Aug 10
• Schedule - Southwest EC Eagles (El Centro, CA) Football 26-27 MaxPreps · Aug 11
• JOHNNY MARTINEZ Obituary (1950 - 2026) - El Centro, CA - Imperial Valley Press Online Legacy obituary · Aug 15

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes El Centro Unique

• The only place in America named El Centro — a truly one-of-a-kind name among 32,000+ US communities.
• Positioned in southeastern California, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
• Part of the fabric of California — one of 1,618 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

• Big enough for services and schools, small enough to feel like home.
• Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 44,230.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 7 miles.

🍽️ Where to Eat in El Centro

• Antojitos Como en Casa — mexican
• Chuck E. Cheese — pizza
• Exotic Thai Bistro — thai
• Lucky Chinese Resturant — chinese
• Pizza Hut — pizza
• Sizzler — steak house
• Starbucks — coffee shop (café)
• Tacos Marlyn — mexican
• Buffalo Wild Wings — wings
• Burgers n Beer

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🎡 Fun Things to Do

• Chuck E. Cheese

Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in El Centro

• Adams Park reviews ★
• Bucklin Park reviews ★
• Carlos Aguilar Park reviews ★
• Countryside reviews ★
• Debbie J Pittman Park reviews ★
• Debbie Pitman Park reviews ★
• Desert Gardens Park reviews ★
• Farmers reviews ★
• Frazier Field reviews ★
• Gomez Park reviews ★
• Lotus Park reviews ★
• McGee Park reviews ★

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in El Centro

• Ballington Academy for the Arts and Sciences
• Central Union High
• De Anza Magnet
• Desert Garden Elementary
• Desert Oasis High (Continuation)
• Harding Elementary
• Imperial Valley ROP
• Kennedy Middle
• Lincoln Elementary
• Margaret Hedrick Elementary
• McKinley Elementary
• Mt. Signal Virtual Academy
• Phoenix Rising High
• Southwest High

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare

• El Centro Regional Medical Center ★ (1/5 CMS rating) · 24/7 ER

Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of El Centro

🏘️ Nearby Communities