Mexicali Mexico

A pre-Columbian civilization of Yumano tribes was already flourishing in the delta of the Colorado River by the time the first wave of Spaniards arrived in Mexico. In the late 1500s, Jesuit priests came to the country and established schools in the capital. During the 17th century, they started to explore the western and eastern portions of the region and interacted with the natives, teaching them farming and livestock-raising.

In 1767, the Spanish monarch ordered the expulsion of the Jesuit order from all colonies of Spain and replaced them with the Franciscans. The colonial government then paid little attention to the northeastern part of the Baja California peninsula, a region in west Mexico. The area, then a virtual desert often visited by floods, was perceived as unfit for agricultural development. A century later, a Yale geologist stumbled upon the area while surveying for a railroad route. He discovered that the soil in the delta is actually highly suitable for farming and only needs an adequate irrigation system.

However, it was not until more than thirty years later that a canal was constructed to connect the delta to the Colorado River. The California Land Company, an American developer, named the area the Imperial Valley. The first group of farmers settled in the delta in 1903 and after more than a year, the population peaked at around 10,000. The local community that was formed in the Mexican territory became known as Mexicali, a combination of Mexico and California, while the settlement on the American side was called Calexico.

In 1905, another land syndicate sought to develop the Valle de Mexicali. Led by then Los Angeles Times publisher Harry Chandler, the Colorado River Land Company began the construction of an irrigation system with Chinese ditch diggers as the main work force. The original plan was aborted when heavy rainfall caused the Colorado River to overflow, thereby channeling water into the dried up Salton Sink. The Salton Sea was formed, along with the New River and the Alamo River. It took almost two years before the flooding was controlled. The Southern Pacific Railroad constructed a dam and enabled the river to return to its normal course. After the flood, the valleys became well developed agricultural areas.

Most of the lands in Mexicali were owned by the Colorado River Land Company. The company established commercial farming and maintained a virtually monopoly. Lands were later distributed to Europeans, Indians, Arabians, and Japanese but not to the locals. In the 1930s, the Colorado developer finally sold its lands to Mexican farmers.

Local officials and historians declared March 14, 1903 as the the city’s official foundation date. Manuel Vizcarra is recognized as the founder of Mexicali. He was the first town authority and assistant judge.

In later years, Mexicali became one of the leading exporters of asparagus, brocolli, carrots, green onions, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, and tomatoes. In the 1950s, the valley also became the top cotton producer in all of Mexico. Cotton production further increased in the 1960s, amounting to an annual harvest of more than 500,000 parcels.

Today, the city of Mexicali is the capital of the Mexican State of Baja California as well as the administrative seat of the municipality of Mexicali.