Imperial Beach

The area is traditional territory of the Kumeyaay people, who had a village called Alyshuwii. Rancho Melijo, which covered all of modern Imperial Beach, was granted to Santiago E. Argüello in 1833.

The city was founded in June 1887 and named after Imperial County. In March 1887 more than 2,000 laborers went to Coronado to build the Hotel del Coronado, and some stayed and settled in Imperial Beach.

The city was incorporated on July 18, 1956.

A redevelopment plan in 2004 targeted the commercial corridor along Palm Avenue and Seacoast Drive. Demolition of the old Seacoast Inn began on September 13, 2010.

The $22 million Pier South Resort was completed in December 2013. The city's population has stayed close to 26,000 since 2000.

The pier is the central feature of the beach, and the area around it is known as Pier Plaza. Surfboard-shaped bench plaques there tell how the city's big waves shaped surfing from 1937 to the 1950s. Scripps Institution of Oceanography operates a weather station at the middle of the pier. Parts of the 2005 film Lords of Dogtown were shot at the pier.

Beach volleyball, surfing and body boarding are popular. The city has nearly four miles (6.4 km) of beaches and a year-round lifeguard staff. The U.S. Open Sandcastle competition ran for 31 years and drew about 325,000 people. The last event was in August 2011.

Border Field State Park marks the southernmost beach on the U.S. West Coast. Silver Strand State Beach lies on the narrow isthmus that links Imperial Beach to Coronado, which is about 7 miles (11 km) long.

The Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve is in the city. Imperial Beach sits at the end of the Tijuana River watershed. The estuary, where the river meets the Pacific, is a salt marsh and home to endangered birds.

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System provides bus and paratransit service in the city. The Silver Strand connects Imperial Beach to Coronado.

The U.S. Navy's Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach is nearby, bordered by the Silver Strand Training Complex. The city is one of five Port member cities in the Port of San Diego.

The city's own website lists parks and recreation, park reservations, classes and programs, and beach and marine safety, which provides lifeguard services. Imperial Beach Fire-Rescue is also listed.

The city is in California's 52nd congressional district. In 2023 estimates, 85.3% of residents aged 25 or older were high school graduates and 23.7% held a bachelor's degree.