Mount Signal, California

Mount Signal
Unincorporated community
Mount Signal Location in California Mount Signal Mount Signal (the United States)
Coordinates:32°40′42″N115°38′21″W
Country	United States
State	California
County	Imperial County
Elevation	−13 ft (−4 m)

Mount Signalis anunincorporated communitylocated alongState Route 98about 7.5 miles (12.1 km) west ofCalexicoin the southern part of theImperial ValleyinImperial County, California,United States. The area is south ofInterstate 8and about 1.7 miles (2.7 km) north of theMexicoborder. It lies at an elevation of 13 feet (4 m) below sea level.This is an agricultural area. There are a few homes and businesses and many irrigation canals and green fields. TheCentinela Solar Energy Projectis located here. Other nearby communities includeHeber,El Centro,andSeeley.

TheZIP Codefor Mount Signal is 92231 and the area is in Calexico'stelephone exchangearea. Its area code is760.While not acensus-designated place,the name is official and it does have a National Geographic Names Database feature ID of 1661068. The officialU.S. Geological Surveycoordinates are32°40′42″N115°38′21″W:this defines a spot near the intersection of State Route 98 (SR98) and Brockman Road.

Name

The community is named forMount Signal,a summit about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) southwest, inside Mexico. It is also known as El Cerro Centinela, by the Mexicans, and Wi'Shspa, by theKwapa: Cocopahpeople.

Mount Signal was used by the early Pioneers and Native Americans as a landmark to help guide them through the desert. Most of the fields in the area are currently growingalfalfaorsugar beets.

Mount Signal Road takes you to the mountain and the International Border. Unfortunately, there is not a Port of Entry there. However, there is a limited access area for off-road vehicles.

Even though Mount Signal appears to be in the United States, it is actually located on the Mexican side of the border. If one would like to climb all 2,300 feet (700 m) to the top, one must do so from the Mexican side. Climbers need to take care, there are no maintained trails. During the 1870s U.S. engineers climbed the mountain to record the elevation, so there should be a monument marker at the top.

Mount Signal, viewed from theImperial Valley,California

History

A post office operated at Mount Signal from 1916 to 1934.

Points of interest

Other geographic features supporting the name include Mount Signal School, feature ID of 246276. It is believed the school no longer exists; its location was one mile (1.6 km) north of these coordinates on Brockman Road.

At the intersection of SR98 and Brockman Road is the Mount Signal Café, currently closed. The business was shown on an episode of "California's Gold".

Politics

In thestate legislatureMount Signal is located in the 40thSenateDistrict, represented byDemocratDenise Moreno Ducheny,and in the 80thAssemblyDistrict, represented byRepublicanBonnie Garcia.Federally, Mount Signal is located inCalifornia's 51st congressional district,which is represented by DemocratJuan Vargas.

See also

• Mount Signal Solar—very large solar farm/station in the area.
• Natural history of the Colorado Desert

External links

• Over One Hundred and One Views of Mount Signal,maintained by American ArtistAllan McCollum
• Map: "Mount Signal, California," 7.5-minute quadrangle, U.S. Geological Survey, 1976.
• California's Gold, Huell Howser Productions, (#204)
• Map: "Imperial County," Automobile Club of Southern California, 1997.