Westmorland, California

City in California, United States

City in California, United States

City of Westmorland

City

City Hall of Westmorland

Seal

Motto:

"Today's Roadrunners Tomorrow's Leaders"[citation needed]

Location in Imperial County and the state of California

City of Westmorland

Location in the United States

Coordinates: 33°02′14″N 115°37′17″W﻿ / ﻿33.03722°N 115.62139°W﻿ / 33.03722; -115.62139[1]
Country| United States
State| California
County| Imperial
Incorporated| June 30, 1934[2]
Government

• Mayor| Judith Rivera[3]
Area

[4]

• Total

| 0.59 sq mi (1.53 km2)
• Land| 0.59 sq mi (1.53 km2)
• Water| 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation

[1]

| −164 ft (−50 m)
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 2,014
• Density| 3,820.34/sq mi (1,474.85/km2)
Time zone| UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)| UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code|

92281

Area codes| 442/760
FIPS code| 06-84606
GNIS feature IDs| 1652812, 2412239
Website| www.cityofwestmorland.net

Westmorland (formerly Westmoreland)[5] is a city in Imperial County, California. Westmorland is located 8.5 miles (14 km) southwest of Calipatria.[5] The population was 2,014 at the 2020 census, down from 2,225 at the 2010 census,[6] up from 2,131 in 2000. It is part of the El Centro Metropolitan Area. The mayor of Westmorland is Ana Beltran.

Westmorland is on State Route 86, which was upgraded to a new six-lane highway to reduce its infamous auto accident and fatality risk, while it connects with Brawley, El Centro and Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.

The post office, originally called Westmoreland, opened in 1909; it closed in 1912 and re-opened in 1919. It was renamed to Westmorland in 1936.[5] Westmorland incorporated in 1934.[5]

From the 1920s through the 1950s Westmorland was the site of illegal gaming establishments and many brothels, but these were later destroyed in an attempt to improve the town's image.[when?]

Westmorland has dealt with the image of high poverty rates, and prior to the 1990s North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) economic boom, a nearly dormant farm food shipping industry.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), all land.

Westmorland is below sea level and sits behind a number of active faults. Seismic activity has been recorded several times during the 20th century, with tremors occurring in 1907, 1916, 1925, 1940, 1948, 1965, and 1979. The 1987 Superstition Hills event caused serious damage in Westmorland and the Imperial Valley.

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1940| 1,010| | —
1950| 1,213| | 20.1%
1960| 1,404| | 15.7%
1970| 1,175| | −16.3%
1980| 1,590| | 35.3%
1990| 1,380| | −13.2%
2000| 2,131| | 54.4%
2010| 2,225| | 4.4%
2020| 2,014| | −9.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

### 2020

[edit]

The 2020 United States census reported that Westmorland had a population of 2,014, all of whom lived in households. The population density was 3,413.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,318.0/km2). The racial makeup was 640 (31.8%) White, 23 (1.1%) African American, 30 (1.5%) Native American, 11 (0.5%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 683 (33.9%) from other races, and 627 (31.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,786 persons (88.7%).[7]

There were 631 households, out of which 309 (49.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 278 (44.1%) were married-couple households, 45 (7.1%) were cohabiting couple households, 210 (33.3%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 98 (15.5%) had a male householder with no partner present. 106 households (16.8%) were one person, and 51 (8.1%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.19.[7] There were 484 families (76.7% of all households).[8]

The age distribution was 656 people (32.6%) under the age of 18, 165 people (8.2%) aged 18 to 24, 466 people (23.1%) aged 25 to 44, 445 people (22.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 282 people (14.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males.[7]

There were 655 housing units at an average density of 1,110.2 units per square mile (428.7 units/km2), of which 631 (96.3%) were occupied. Of these, 299 (47.4%) were owner-occupied, and 332 (52.6%) were occupied by renters.[7]

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $28,929, and the per capita income was $14,375. About 47.7% of families and 49.3% of the population were below the poverty line.[9]

### 2010

[edit]

At the 2010 census Westmorland had a population of 2,225. The population density was 3,769.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,455.5/km2). The racial makeup of Westmorland was 1,038 (46.7%) White, 21 (0.9%) African American, 38 (1.7%) Native American, 11 (0.5%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 1,042 (46.8%) from other races, and 75 (3.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,938 persons (87.1%).[10]

The whole population lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized.

There were 631 households, 336 (53.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 299 (47.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 174 (27.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 61 (9.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 61 (9.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 4 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 89 households (14.1%) were one person and 42 (6.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.53. There were 534 families (84.6% of households); the average family size was 3.82.

The age distribution was 765 people (34.4%) under the age of 18, 234 people (10.5%) aged 18 to 24, 527 people (23.7%) aged 25 to 44, 449 people (20.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 250 people (11.2%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 29.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

There were 678 housing units at an average density of 1,148.7 per square mile (443.5/km2), of which 631 were occupied, 299 (47.4%) by the owners and 332 (52.6%) by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%. 1,066 people (47.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,159 people (52.1%) lived in rental housing units.

## Politics

[edit]

In the state legislature, Westmorland is in the 18th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Steve Padilla,[11] and the 36th Assembly district, represented by Republican Jeff Gonzalez.[12]

Federally, Westmorland is in California's 25th congressional district, represented by Democrat Raul Ruiz.[13]

## Schools

[edit]

Westmorland children (grades K-8) are part of the Westmorland Elementary School District, while high-school age students are members of the neighboring Brawley Union High School District.

## Infrastructure

[edit]

### Public safety

[edit]

Westmorland has one of the smallest police departments in California, with a chief and five full-time officers with only five patrol cars. The Imperial County Fire Department provides fire and paramedic services.

## Utilities

[edit]

The city's public works department operates its own water and wastewater system.[14]

## See also

[edit]

* California portal

* 1981 Westmorland earthquake
* San Diego–Imperial, California
* El Centro Metropolitan Area

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Westmorland". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
2. ^ "California Cities by Incorporation Date" (Word). California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
3. ^ "City of Westmorland - Council". cityofwestmorland.net. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
4. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
5. ^ a b c d Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, California: Word Dancer Press. p. 1481\. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
6. ^ a b US Census Bureau, 2020 Census, Westmorland city, California profile
7. ^ a b c d "Westmorland city, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
8. ^ "Westmorland city, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
9. ^ "Westmorland city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
10. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Westmorland city". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
11. ^ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
12. ^ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
13. ^ "California's 25th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
14. ^ "City of Westmorland - Public Works Department".

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Imperial County, California, United States

County seat: El Centro

Cities|

* Brawley
* Calexico
* Calipatria
* El Centro
* Holtville
* Imperial
* Westmorland

Imperial County map

CDPs|

* Bombay Beach
* Desert Shores
* El Centro Naval Air Facility
* Heber
* Niland
* Ocotillo
* Palo Verde
* Salton City
* Salton Sea Beach
* Seeley
* Winterhaven

Unincorporated
communities|

* Alamorio
* Andrade
* Bard
* Bonds Corner
* Boulder Park
* Coyote Wells
* Dixieland
* Felicity
* Glamis
* Kane Spring
* Meloland
* Mount Signal
* Obregon
* Picacho
* Plaster City
* Rockwood
* Slab City

Indian
reservations|

* Fort Yuma Indian Reservation‡
* Torres-Martinez Indian Reservation

Ghost towns|

* Camp Gaston
* Carrizo Creek Station
* Hedges
* Indian Wells
* Jaeger City
* Ogilby
* Paringa
* Pilot Knob Station
* Potholes
* Sackett's Wells
* Silsbee
* Tumco

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* California portal
* United States portal

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

Other|

* IdRef

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*[%±]: Percent change
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