Calipatria is a small farming town shaped by the nearby state prison
The small town of Calipatria sits amidst the farmland of California’s Imperial Valley, a small community that has grown thanks to the influence of the nearby state prison. “The prison building is 3 miles north, so the state employees who work there move into town,” says Realtor Adrienne Estrada with Tier 1 Realty, who grew up in Calipatria. “And it’s all generations – people who move out tend to move back after they get their degrees. That has led to it being a very tight-knit community where everybody knows each other.” While residents may frequently leave town for shopping and recreation, the quiet streets of Calipatria continue to inspire community loyalty.
Classic styles and custom homes reflect Calipatria's roots
Home styles in Calipatria vary widely. The lots in town are populated with Craftsman bungalows, midcentury cottages and even traditional southwestern homes with Pueblo-inspired features. “Some of the ranch-style homes on the outskirts of town were custom-built by the farmers who live there,” Estrada says. “There has not been much, if any, new development in town, although there’s a lithium plant planned 10 to 15 miles outside of town, which is expected to generate new jobs, so I would expect that to change as plans move forward.” Prices range from around $170,000 to $370,000, depending on the number of bedrooms, square footage, build year and status of any renovations.
Calipatria High has served the community for over a century
Area children are zoned to attend Fremont Primary School, which receives a C-plus from Niche, for kindergarten through grade 4. They then proceed to Bill E. Young Jr. Middle, which earns a C. Calipatria High School, founded in 1919, scores a B and has been serving the community for over 100 years.
Residents rely on state Route 111 and Interstate 8
California state Route 111 is the main commuter lane of Calipatria, connecting it north to the prison and south to larger towns like Brawley and El Centro. This road is also the quickest way to access Interstate 8, the region’s major east-west connector. Colloquially referred to as “the 8”, this freeway heads west to San Diego and east to Phoenix.
Basics are available in town, with more extensive options nearby
Calipatria’s State Foods Supermarket and Dollar General are located within a half-mile of each other along Sorenson Road. Restaurants within this corridor include Birria La Patria, a locally owned Mexican spot, and Donut Avenue. “They have a Main Street area with a grocery store and a couple of restaurants and donut shops,” Estrada says. “There are shopping centers, but the more extensive ones are going to be down in Brawley, Imperial and El Centro.” Brawley is home to the nearest Walmart Supercenter, and Imperial hosts the Imperial Valley Mall, which offers over 100 eateries and retail stores.
Parks near the schools provide recreational opportunities
Most of Calipatria’s recreation facilities are on the west side of town near the schools. There are six basketball courts, several baseball diamonds and a community pool in the area, although these are mostly used during the school year. “Some kids will participate in the swim team, but during the summer it gets up to 115 degrees pretty regularly - too hot to do much of anything outdoors,” Estrada says. “People who like to hike or bike usually go out to San Diego for it.” The popular Sweetwater River Trail, in the San Diego Wildlife Refuge, is a 2-hour drive west.
