Mount Signal, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mount Signal is a community located along State Route 98 about 7.5 miles west of Calexico. Other nearby communities include Heber, El Centro, and Seeley. The area is about 1.7 miles north of the Mexico border. It is inside Imperial County and south of Interstate 8. This is an agricultural area. There are a few homes and businesses and many irrigation canals and green fields.
The ZIP Code for Mount Signal is 92231 and the area is in Calexico's telephone exchange area. While not a Census Designated Place, the name is official and it does have a National Geographic Names Database feature ID of 1661068. The official U.S. Geological Survey coordinates are : this defines a spot near the intersection of State Route 98 (SR98) and Brockman Road.
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 north of these coordinates on Brockman Road. At the intersection of SR98 and Brockman Road is the Mount Signal Café. The business was shown on an episode of "California's Gold" and the owner's mom, Maria de Jesus, was a banderillera, known to fans as "Manolita," a member of perhaps the only female bullfighting team ever.
The community may be named for Mount Signal, a summit about 5.5 miles southwest, (inside Mexico).
Mount Signal, located in the southern part of the Imperial Valley, is also known as El Cerro Centinela, by the Mexicans, and Weeishpa, by the Kumeyaay people.
Mount Signal was used by the early Pioneers and Native Americans as a landmark to help guide them through the desert. The fields that surround the mountain are excellent for hunting fowl. Most of the fields in the area are currently growing alfalfa or sugar beets. On a clear winter morning, Mount Signal appears to leap into the scenic foreground making for a spectacular view.
Mount Signal is located south of Highway 98 between Calexico, California, and Ocotillo, California. Mount Signal Road takes you right to the mountain and the International Border. Unfortunately, there is not a Port of Entry here. However, there is a limited access area for off-road vehicles.
Even though Mount Signal appears to be in the United States, the large majority of it is actually located on the Mexican side of the border. If one would like to climb all 2,300 feet to the top, one must do so from the Mexican side. Climbers need to take care, there are no maintained trails. During the 1870's U.S. engineers climbed the mountain to record the elevation, so there should be a monument marker at the top.
[edit] External links
- One hundred and One Views of Mount Signal, maintained by American Artist Allan McCollum
- Map: "Mount Signal, California," 7.5-minute quadrangle, U.S. Geological Survey, 1976.
- California's Gold, Huell Howser Productions, (unknown episode, #302?)
- Map: "Imperial County," Automobile Club of Southern California, 1997.
