Explore Imperial voter guides, local civic context and official resources for Imperial County campaigns, with dated population and registration facts.
At a glance: Imperial is an incorporated city in Imperial County. Population: 22,984 (California Department of Finance estimate as of January 1, 2026). Registered voters: 12,735 (California Secretary of State, as of September 4, 2026).
This is Imperial in Imperial County, not Imperial Beach in San Diego County. The City of Imperial’s May 2025 service area plan places it immediately north of El Centro in an agricultural setting. Its low-rise urban grid, surrounding fields and regional facilities give it a different identity from either the county as a whole or the coastal city with a similar name. The plan identifies the California Mid-Winter fairgrounds, Imperial County Airport and Imperial Irrigation District headquarters as important associated local elements. Their presence does not make every nearby institution a city department. County facilities, municipal government and the irrigation district have different responsibilities, records and decision-making processes. The service area plan separates existing city limits from a proposed sphere of influence and potential annexation areas. This distinction is especially important for understanding growth around the city. A future-service planning boundary is not evidence that annexation has occurred, a parcel is eligible for a particular municipal service, or a planned improvement is already complete. Imperial’s report examines administration, drainage, fire protection, law enforcement, library facilities, parks, roads, wastewater and water. These chapters provide a local framework for tracing a development discussion to infrastructure and financing questions. Read them as the subjects assessed in May 2025, while using later adopted records for current projects or property-specific service decisions.
No. Imperial is in Imperial County; Imperial Beach is a separate San Diego County municipality.
The May 2025 service area plan places Imperial immediately north of El Centro.
No. The airport, county fairgrounds and Imperial Irrigation District illustrate the need to distinguish county, city and district responsibilities.
No. The 2025 plan distinguishes the existing incorporated boundary from future-service planning and proposed annexation areas.
12,735 (California Secretary of State, as of September 4, 2026).
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