Imperial Beach, California

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View of the Pacific Ocean from Imperial Beach

Imperial Beach is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. The population was 26,992 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics (2000 census)
- 2.1 Current estimates
3 Famous residents
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Imperial Beach is located at 32°34′42″N, 117°7′2″W (32.578255, -117.117111)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.7 km² (4.5 mi²). 11.1 km² (4.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (5.53%) is water.

The city occupies the extreme southwest corner of the continental United States, being bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, and Mexico on the south.

Known as a biker town for its rough atmosphere and seedy beachfront area throughout the 70s, Imperial Beach has undergone a significant makeover in the last ten years. However, the town is still a low-key beach community, with a growing population of Latinos who make up the majority of the population, despite having no voice in local political affairs. For years the town was controlled by pro-growth elected officials, but over the years environmentalists and other activists helped elect a group of smart-growth and no-growth elected officials. The City of Imperial Beach is now implementing an ambitious community redevelopment plan to improve the badly developed commercial corridor along Palm Avenue.

Imperial Beach was the location of fierce environmental battles in the 1970s and 1980s over plans to develop the Tijuana Estuary and build a breakwater to control beach erosion. Former Mayor Brian Bilbray, who later became a U.S. Congressman, lost both battles and the Tijuana Estuary is now a National Estuarine Research Reserve and State Park. The cessation of plans to build the breakwater was officially the first major victory of the then fledgling Surfrider Foundation, now an international organization with 45,000-members. The biggest obstacle to the renewal of Imperial Beach is the continued pollution of the Tijuana River and beach closures that resulted in Imperial Beach being named the most polluted beach in California.

Surfing is popular in Imperial Beach with activities concentrated north and south of the Imperial Beach Pier and in front of the Tijuana Estuary at the famed Boca Rio beachbreak. The Tijuana Sloughs, a fabled big-wave surf spot is now almost unrideable due to raw toxic sewage that flows into the break from the Tijuana River. WiLDCOAST, a coastal conservation organization based in Imperial Beach, launched a grassroots "Clean Water Now" campaign to support a comprehensive plan to clean up the Tijuana River and reduce beach closures along the U.S.-Mexico border. Beach closures and polluted water have had a significant impact on the health of surfers and children who frequent local waters.

Kem Nunn's novel, Tijuana Straits, provides excellent insight into the culture of the border and surfing in Imperial Beach and the Tijuana River Valley and the environmental problems that impact both the poorest and wealthiest residents of Tijuana, Imperial Beach and Coronado.

[edit] Demographics (2000 census)

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 26,992 people, 9,272 households, and 6,453 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,440.7/km² (6,324.2/mi²). There were 9,739 housing units at an average density of 880.6/km² (2,281.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.26% White, 5.26% African American, 1.10% Native American, 6.55% Asian, 0.60% Pacific Islander, 17.77% from other races, and 6.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 40.08% of the population.

There were 9,272 households out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 13.9% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,882, and the median income for a family was $37,352. Males had a median income of $29,692 versus $24,201 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,003. About 14.1% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Current estimates

According to estimates by the San Diego Association of Governments, the median household income of Imperial Beach in 2005 was $49,104 (not adjusted for inflation). When adjusted for inflation (1999 dollars; comparable to Census data above), the median household income was $39,874.

[edit] Famous residents

Republican Congressman Brian Bilbray grew up in Imperial Beach and was mayor

Author Robert Clark Young grew up in Imperial Beach.

Teenage entrepreneur and fraudster Barry Minkow lives in Imperial Beach.
Film actor (Full Metal Jacket,Vision Quest and Memphis Belle) Matthew Modine attended High School in Imperial Beach.