# Ocotillo, California

Ocotillo (Latin American Spanish:; Spanish for "Vine cactus") is a census-designated place (CDP) in Imperial County, California. Ocotillo is located 26 miles (42 km) west of El Centro. The population was 215 at the 2020 census, down from 266 at the 2010 census and 296 at the 2000 census. It is part of the El Centro, California Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Ocotillo was devastated by floods from Hurricane Kathleen in 1976; 3 people died. There is a cafe, a church, a small park, a community center, a small market, two bars, OHV rentals and a gas station. There is a Desert Museum with displays about the desert terrain, flora, etc. and artifacts from the Kumeyaay culture that inhabited the area which is located on the north side of Interstate 8.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.9 square miles (23 km$^2$), all of it land.

### Climate

Ocotillo has a hot-desert climate with long, extremely hot summers, and mild to warm winters. The average yearly temperature is one of the highest out of any inhabited place in California. Days of 100 °F and over are quite common from late spring into early fall. Since winters, although milder, in Octillo average highs of over 70 °F, the town becomes the only inhabited place in California to not have a month averaging a high of less than 70 °F throughout the year
Precipitation is very little as Ocotillo sees about less than 3 inches of rain on average per year on average, making it the driest place in California and one of the driest in the United States. The winter months, which tend to be the wettest in California, see roughly a couple inches in Ocotillo. However, late summers may see some occasional monsoonal showers, but they still also come in minimal amounts.
Climate data for Ocotillo (380 feet above sea level) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 90 (32) | 93 (34) | 101 (38) | 109 (43) | 116 (47) | 121 (49) | 122 (50) | 120 (49) | 120 (49) | 112 (44) | 98 (37) | 95 (35) | 122 (50) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 71 (22) | 74 (23) | 80 (27) | 86 (30) | 95 (35) | 103 (39) | 107 (42) | 106 (41) | 101 (38) | 91 (33) | 78 (26) | 70 (21) | 89 (31) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 57 (14) | 61 (16) | 66 (19) | 71 (22) | 79 (26) | 87 (31) | 93 (34) | 93 (34) | 87 (31) | 76 (24) | 64 (18) | 57 (14) | 74 (24) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 43 (6) | 47 (8) | 51 (11) | 56 (13) | 63 (17) | 70 (21) | 78 (26) | 79 (26) | 72 (22) | 61 (16) | 50 (10) | 43 (6) | 59 (15) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 18 (−8) | 24 (−4) | 29 (−2) | 34 (1) | 36 (2) | 47 (8) | 52 (11) | 54 (12) | 48 (9) | 33 (1) | 24 (−4) | 22 (−6) | 18 (−8) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.49 (12) | 0.47 (12) | 0.30 (7.6) | 0.05 (1.3) | 0.02 (0.51) | 0.00 (0.00) | 0.06 (1.5) | 0.27 (6.9) | 0.28 (7.1) | 0.34 (8.6) | 0.17 (4.3) | 0.41 (10) | 2.86 (71.81) |
| Source: Weather Channel ||||||||||||||

## History

Ocotillo is located on a site that originally sat on the edge of ancient Lake Cahuilla and is the traditional territory of the Kumeyaay. The town originated as a retirement community. The post office was opened in 1957. In March 2012, a museum, the Imperial Valley Desert Museum opened in Ocotillo after many years of fundraising and construction.

## Demographics
### 2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Ocotillo had a population of 266. The population density was 30.0 inhabitants per square mile (11.6/km$^2$). The racial makeup of Ocotillo was 242 (91.0%) White, 1 (0.4%) African American, 1 (0.4%) Native American, 2 (0.8%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 17 (6.4%) from other races, and 3 (1.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 61 persons (22.9%).
The Census reported that 266 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 138 households, out of which 24 (17.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 50 (36.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 13 (9.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 5 (3.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3 (2.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 2 (1.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 60 households (43.5%) were made up of individuals, and 25 (18.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.93. There were 68 families (49.3% of all households); the average family size was 2.60.
The population was spread out, with 44 people (16.5%) under the age of 18, 9 people (3.4%) aged 18 to 24, 33 people (12.4%) aged 25 to 44, 109 people (41.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 71 people (26.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 56.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.5 males.
There were 323 housing units at an average density of 36.5 per square mile (14.1/km$^2$), of which 138 were occupied, of which 98 (71.0%) were owner-occupied, and 40 (29.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 14.9%. 189 people (71.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 77 people (28.9%) lived in rental housing units.

### 2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 296 people, 145 households, and 79 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 33.3 inhabitants per square mile (12.9/km$^2$). There were 253 housing units at an average density of 28.5 per square mile (11.0/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the CDP was 87.8% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 1.7% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 4.4% from other races, and 4.7% from two or more races. 19.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 145 households, out of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.5% were non-families. 42.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.0 and the average family size was 2.8.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 21.6% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 18.9% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $23,438, and the median income for a family was $43,125. Males had a median income of $24,196 versus $55,556 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,849. None of the families and 16.6% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 26.2% of those over 64.

## Government

In the California State Legislature, Ocotillo is in the 40th Senate District, represented by Republican Brian Jones, and the 56th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Lisa Calderon.
In the United States House of Representatives, Ocotillo is in California's 25th congressional district, represented by Democrat Raul Ruiz.

## Utilities

Two nonprofit utilities provide water service to Ocotillo. Ocotillo Mutual Water Company provides service to the main part of the community and Coyote Valley Mutual Water Company provides service to outlying areas.