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-Editorial
Calexico is a unique border community with a rich history behind it. That’s why the Calexico City Council decided to celebrate its 115th anniversary with a small but meaningful ceremony on April 18th.
Mariachi Amanecer arrived at the Calexico City Council Chambers to sing “Las Mañanitas” to the city and celebrate its future.
“I know Calexico has faced many challenges but we have better days ahead,” Councilman Camilo Garcia said. “We need to make sure that we keep and work the same way our founders did to make this a great city.”
Councilman Gilberto Manzanarez said the people of Calexico are the driving force of the city. He thanked the people who worked non-stop during the pandemic and those who sacrificed to make the city what it is today.
Calexico Mayor Raul Ureña said that Calexico is resilient and continues to march forward despite the economic challenges and health emergencies that have affected the city.
“Just as we were recovering the pandemic hit us hard and more than any other community in the United States and California. We almost lost our city many times due to bankruptcy. But we got up stronger and more resilient because we united to help our neighbors, the people on the streets, and our farm workers. The earth shook because it felt how Calexico was getting up stronger,” Mayor Ureña said. =
The council celebrated by passing a resolution that read:
WHEREAS, Calexico began as a tent city of the Imperial Land Company founded in 1899 and the Imperial Land Company converted desert land into a fertile setting for year-round agriculture; and
WHEREAS Calexico was incorporated on April 16, 1908, and this year observes its 115t Anniversary; and
WHEREAS, the name of the City of Calexico is a portmanteau of California and Mexico; and
WHEREAS, in 1907 Imperial County split from San Diego County becoming California’s fifty-eighth County, and on April 16, 1908, Calexico became the third city in Imperial County; and
WHEREAS, Calexico’s population has grown over the years, starting at 797 in 1910, rising to 6,223 6y 1920, and reaching 38,633 in 2020 and is now the 2nd largest City in Imperial County, the 206th largest City in California, and the 1035th largest city in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the history of Calexico’s endurance gives powerful testimony about the resiliency of its residents and their capabilities and desire for proper; and WHEREAS, Calexico continues to address environmental, social, and economic regional concerns to ensure an improved quality of life and economic growth through the vital contributions of its residents; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Raul Ureña, Mayor of the City of Calexico do hereby proclaim April 16, 2023, the 15th Anniversary of the City of Calexico and henceforth, the Month of April will be recognized and celebrated by all with pride and optimism.
