Imperial County is named for the Imperial Valley which took its name from the Imperial Land Company.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Riverside County
E – La Paz County, Arizona and Yuma County, Arizona
W – San Diego County
Created: August 7, 1907
County Seat:
El Centro 1907 – present
County Courthouse – El Centro
Location: 939 West Main Street / South 9th Street
Built: 1924 – 1925
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: Donald W Wells & Ralph Swearingen
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces north and is a two story gray concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of El Centro. The north front has a portico supported by six large stone Doric columns. Above the columns is a wide header with cornice and decorative patterns. The entrance is recessed. The east and west wings are lower. The building was damaged in the 1973 earthquake. There are seven courtrooms. The building houses the County Superior Court.
New County Courthouse – El Centro
Location: 650 Wake Street / Thomas Drive
Built: 2020 – 2022
Style: Modern
Architect: Safdie Rabines Architects
Contractor: Nielsen Construction California and Vanir Construction Management, Inc.
Description: The building faces south and is a two story glass, light tan colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds to the south of the in the center of El Centro. The building has four courtrooms. The building houses the County Superior Court – Criminal.
See: The county is located in the 4th Appellate District Court of Appeal – Santa Ana
County Administration Center – El Centro

Location: 939 West Main Street / South 9th Street
Built: 1981 – 1982
Style: Modern
Architect: The Blurock Partnership
Contractor: C A Warsen Construction
Description: The building faces south and is a two story concrete, glass and steel structure. The south front has a central entrance with cement canopy supported by cement pillars. Over the entrance is a large window. Windows run along the first story only.
Old County Courthouse – El Centro
Location: 631 Main Street / South 6th Street
Built: 1808
Style: Commercial
Architect: Thomas Fellows
Contractor: Long & Newman.
Description: The building faces north and is a two story brick and concrete structure. The building is located in the center of El Centro to the north of the courthouse. The north front has three large arches with porch on the first story. The roof line is flat. The building now houses the Elks Lodge.
History: The county was created in 1907 and El Centro was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a two story building designed by Thomas Fellows and built by Long & Newman in 1908. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1924 to 1925. The third courthouse is presently under construction at a cost of $67,096,000.

County Courthouse - El Centro





County Administration Center – El Centro






Photos taken 2008 and 2013