How is Calexico and El Centro seeing population growth? (San Diego: unemployment rate, movie theater)

[the city]

What is fueling the Imperial Valley's economy? How is it possible Calexico has an outlet mall opening up? Or the fact that El Centro has a mall? Is it a tourist spot for people from Mexicali?

[aboveordinary]

Calexico has had a mall for awhile. It is a nice mall too. Not sure how malls equate tourism. The residents of the area work and shop at these malls. They don't have to be from some place else. The Imperial Valley mostly thrives on agriculture. El Centro and the Imperial Valley in general is cheaper than a lot of other parts of California. The affordability makes it an attractive option for those with not a lot of money. I could ask the same about Bakersfield and Fresno. Both of which offer about the same as far as jobs (retail and heavy agiruculture) and affordability.

[the city]

Originally Posted by aboveordinary

Calexico has had a mall for awhile. It is a nice mall too. Not sure how malls equate tourism. The residents of the area work and shop at these malls. They don't have to be from some place else. The Imperial Valley mostly thrives on agriculture. El Centro and the Imperial Valley in general is cheaper than a lot of other parts of California. The affordability makes it an attractive option for those with not a lot of money. I could ask the same about Bakersfield and Fresno. Both of which offer about the same as far as jobs (retail and heavy agiruculture) and affordability.

No they have not always had an outlet mall. Gran Plaza Outlets just opened:

Mi Calexico

I believe El Centro saw a loss of population where as Calexico saw an increase in population from the last census.

[aboveordinary]

There is another mall that you can see from the 8 freeway that has a Dillards and a movie theater and some other stores. Not surprising that El Centro saw a population loss. The unemployment rate in Imperial County is/was worse than most if not all other counties in California when the economy entered the recession.

[shmoov_groovzsd]

I don't know of any single data point that explains why, but considering the border nature of Calexico, Mexicali has grown quite a bit over the years as I understand. Hence the newish outlet mall.

Just like we have the Las Americas Plaza in San Ysidro, I am certain there are folks coming through Mexicali to shop in Calexico.

I was under the impression the El Centro Naval Base kept the economy afloat in that area. A friend of my wife's used to be on the Blue Angels which was winter based in El Centro and when that was cut, many other aspects of the Blue Angels were cut as well.
So I am sure military spending cuts besides that affected the area directly.

[the city]

Originally Posted by shmoov_groovzsd

I don't know of any single data point that explains why, but considering the border nature of Calexico, Mexicali has grown quite a bit over the years as I understand. Hence the newish outlet mall.

Just like we have the Las Americas Plaza in San Ysidro, I am certain there are folks coming through Mexicali to shop in Calexico.

I was under the impression the El Centro Naval Base kept the economy afloat in that area. A friend of my wife's used to be on the Blue Angels which was winter based in El Centro and when that was cut, many other aspects of the Blue Angels were cut as well.
So I am sure military spending cuts besides that affected the area directly.

Yeah, I am thinking El Centro and Calexico are shopping destinations for Mexicali.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

For many months a year the area is a huge draw for hundreds of thousands of hunters.

[Chelito23]

Mexicali shoppers drive the shopping mall in EC and the new outlets in Calexico. Without Mexicali...there wouldn't be a mall in EC.

The local economy is dependent on cattle, agricultura and shoppers from Mexicali. NAF El Centro also may help, but it is a small segment. There are also some prisons and then border patrol and government jobs and that's about it.

The area grew in the last census probably because many people here have large families....and it is relatively cheap and there is a lot of unemployment and lack of recreation...so people find their own things to do...and don't tend to worry about planning ahead with a family. Also, the population is basically stable, since it is so small, it doesn't take much for it to grow.

[armourereric]

I live in Boulevard and prefer to do my shopping at Imperial Valley mall, seems like everything is 40% cheaper than San Diego everyday there. The movie theater is state of the art, but only charges $8.50 an adult ticket peak times. I wanted a hat from Macy's 2 Christmas' ago. The Macy's in Mission Valley/Parkway Plaza wanted $70, the same hat at the IVM Macy's was 2 for $45. IVM and Parkway Plaza are equally distant from my house.

[Monorojo13]

I am looking at a job there, what is the area like for a family with a small kids, 9/5/3. Is there much to do, how is crime? the usual stuff? I'm look towards living in Imperial I think.