[5] At an elevation of 180 feet (55 m) below sea level,[3] Calipatria is the lowest incorporated city in the Western Hemisphere.

[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.6 km2), all land.

This area has a large amount of sunshine year round due to its stable descending air and high pressure.

[8] The Imperial Valley Farm Lands Association founded the town as Date City in 1914.

There were 1,121 housing units at an average density of 301.7 per square mile (116.5/km2),of which 1,008 were occupied, 536 (53.2%) by the owners and 472 (46.8%) by renters.

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

[15] Freight rail service is provided by Union Pacific Railroad's Calexico Subdivision.

Calipatria is served by Golden State Water Company,[16] Imperial Irrigation District, Southern California Gas, and Pacific Bell.

[17] Salvation Mountain is a notable tourist attraction in the north of Calipatria, near Slab City.

Salvation Mountain is a small hill which is entirely covered in thousands of gallons of acrylic paint, straw, concrete, adobe.

The video for Fourth of July, by Shooter Jennings, is partially set at Salvation Mountain.