The City

The City of Calipatria was incorporated in 1919.

Calipatria is home to the tallest flagpole in the United States, which stands at 184 feet where the flag flies at sea level. The record-breaking flagpole was built by and dedicated to "Good Neighborliness” of Calipatria’s townspeople. Calipatria is a General Law city with a City Manager form of government. Calipatria has five seats on the City Council. Council Meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. Calipatria has a Planning Commission Board that seats five members. The Planning Commission meets on the third Tuesday of every month if there is any business to conduct. Services provided by the City of Calipatria include Police, Fire, and Parks.

The City of Calipatria is located about 150 miles east of San Diego and 100 miles South of Palm Springs. The area is predominately agricultural. Calipatria is surrounded by various recreational activity locations. Located about 40 miles from the city, the Glamis Dunes are home to many off-road enthusiasts. About 30 miles from the city, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy rock collecting, deer hunting, and dove hunting in the Chocolate Mountain areas. The City of Calipatria is also a short hour’s drive from the beautiful Colorado River. About 5 miles from here lies the Salton Sea, an area of great interest and activity for fishermen, campers, tourists, and bird watchers. The Salton Sea is home to the Sonny Bono Wildlife Refuge, where bird watching enthusiasts can observe the various species of birds that frequent the area. In fact, there is an annual bird watching festival held in February of each year. Boat tours are also available at the Salton Sea to view the various habitats of the migratory birds. In addition to agriculture, geothermal activity is a big boost to our local economy. Seven geothermal plants and three new mineral recovery plants are located along a seven-mile radius near the Salton Sea.

Facts and Figures
  • The City of Calipatria has a growing population of 7,564
  • Elevation is 185 below sea level