Imperial County, CA History

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta

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SOURCE:  The History of Imperial County - Elms & Franks, Berkeley, 1918.
 
CHAPTER XXV
SEELEY
By J. B. TOLER
 
                    When the traveler starts out to visit the great Imperial 
Valley, entering it from the west, his eyes rest upon the fertile lands adjacent 
to Seeley, the western gateway into this wonderland. Seeley is favorably located 
on the California State Highway, which has been completed from the San Diego 
County line to the county seat nine miles east, and also on the San Diego and 
Arizona Railway, which, in March, 1918, lacked only about twelve miles of 
completion. It is the largest town on the west side, nearest the cooler mountain 
breezes and also to the San Diego harbor. 
                    Seeley is the center of a prosperous agricultural district, 
with numerous and diversified crops. Livestock, dairying, hog raising and 
poultry raising are important industries. Cotton is grown quite extensively. The 
two gins located here have handled about 2500 bales each year for the past two 
seasons, and a special gin is being erected to handle the Egyptian varieties, of 
which there will be around 700 acres, principally Pima, planted here in 1918. 
                     From a cluster of sand dunes in 1912 Seeley has made a 
steady growth, and now has a population of about 350 prosperous people, with 
schools, churches, an active farm center and social organizations. Practically 
all trades are represented, including a bank, drug store, physician, department 
store, grocery store, hardware store, hotel, garage, weekly newspaper, meat 
market, restaurant, billiard parlor, barber shops, blacksmith shops, postoffice, 
depot and express office. The town has electric service for light and power, 
telephone service, a city water system and all modern improvements, and a host 
of loyal citizens who are always ready to welcome new enterprises and good 
citizens.