Imperial County is one of about 3,141 counties and county equivalents in the United States. It has 4,174.7 sq. miles in land area and a population density of 38.8 per square mile. In the last three decades of the 1900s its population grew by 91.1%. On the 2000 census form, 96.4% of the population reported only one race, with 4.0% of these reporting African-American. The population of this county is 72.2% Hispanic (of any race). The average household size is 3.33 persons compared to an average family size of 3.77 persons. In 2006 retail trade was the largest of 20 major sectors. It had an average wage per job of $22,232. Per capita income grew by 10.9% between 1996 and 2006 (adjusted for inflation).

People & Income Overview (By Place of Residence)	Value	Rank in U.S.	Industry Overview (2006) (By Place of Work)	Value	Rank in U.S.
Population (2007)	161,867	368	Covered Employment	56,547	418
Growth (%) since 1990	48.1%	291	Avg wage per job	$30,035	1346
Households (2000)	39,384	510	Manufacturing - % all jobs in County	4.5%	2349
Labor Force (persons) (2007)	68,038	449	Avg wage per job	$34,988	1556
Unemployment Rate (2007)	18.0	2	Transportation & Warehousing - % all jobs in County	2.8%	1199
Per Capita Personal Income (2006)	$22,769	2631	Avg wage per job	$33,026	2266
Median Household Income (2005)	$35,085	1941	Health Care, Social Assist. - % all jobs in County	4.6%	1875
Poverty Rate (2005)	21.3	492	Avg wage per job	$29,171	1133
H.S. Diploma or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	59.0	3,050	Finance and Insurance - % all jobs in County	1.6%	2439
Bachelor's Deg. or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	10.3	2,596	Avg wage per job	$39,224	916